# Automated Implementation of the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score (EVGS)

## TL;DR

This paper introduces an automated system for scoring gait abnormalities using the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score, reducing the need for manual analysis.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is an automated EVGS system that works in real-world conditions with new algorithms for gait analysis.

## Key findings

- The system achieved high accuracy in scoring hip and knee flexion parameters.
- Pelvic rotation and hindfoot alignment scoring require further improvement.
- The approach enables mobile-based gait analysis for clinical use.

## Abstract

The Edinburgh Visual Gait Score (EVGS) is a commonly used clinical scale for assessing gait abnormalities, providing insight into diagnosis and treatment planning. However, its manual implementation is resource-intensive and requires time, expertise, and a controlled environment for video recording and analysis. To address these issues, an automated approach for scoring the EVGS was developed. Unlike past methods dependent on controlled environments or simulated videos, the proposed approach integrates pose estimation with new algorithms to handle operational challenges present in the dataset, such as minor camera movement during sagittal recordings, slight zoom variations in coronal views, and partial visibility (e.g., missing head) in some videos. The system uses OpenPose for pose estimation and new algorithms for automatic gait event detection, stride segmentation, and computation of the 17 EVGS parameters across the sagittal and coronal planes. Evaluation of gait videos of patients with cerebral palsy showed high accuracy for parameters such as hip and knee flexion but a need for improvement in pelvic rotation and hindfoot alignment scoring. This automated EVGS approach can minimize the workload for clinicians through the introduction of automated, rapid gait analysis and enable mobile-based applications for clinical decision-making.