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Table 1 Potential advantages and shortcomings of the Global Positioning System (GPS) technique used for gait analysis

From: How useful is satellite positioning system (GPS) to track gait parameters? A review

Advantages

Shortcomings

Available anywhere on the earth in any weather conditions for outdoor measurements at no cost

High cost of professional equipment

Tri-dimensional positioning with centimeter accuracy (Real Time Kinematics, RTK mode)

Not fully validated for gait analysis yet

No space restriction: freedom in the path selection, including uphill/downhill locomotion.

Limited time windows (2–4 h per day)

Free living conditions, i.e close to real life

One body segment measured only (head): Because of mandatory constant satellite access, the antenna must not be obstructed by body parts.

Unlimited number of consecutive strides: limited only by the memory capacity of the receiver and the duration of the batteries.

Outdoor analysis: difficult to standardize environmental conditions (weather, terrain).

 

Not fully miniaturized (cumbersome antenna).