Patent ID: 8744783

Claim:
A method for calculating power generated by a body during legged locomotion comprising: providing at least one accelerometer to measure acceleration of the body during legged locomotion; providing at least one force sensor to measure a plurality of propulsive force impulses created by the body during legged locomotion by measuring said body's foot contact forces during a drive phase of said body's walking or running; and calculating the power generated by the body during legged locomotion using output signals from both the at least one accelerometer and the at least one force sensor, said calculating step comprises utilizing a power equation comprising P=(F*d)/t, where P represents power as force applied over a distance done in a period of time where the measured plurality of propulsive force impulses are exerted from said body's foot contact during said drive phase of said body's walking or running, d is distance traveled by said foot as a consequence of at least one of said plurality of said propulsive forces, and t is time calculated between force impulses; determining a running style of said body based on whether said body is in a walking or running stride based on accessing a plurality of foot force wave forms stored in a database and comparing said measured plurality of propulsive forces with said foot force wave forms stored in said database; and adjusting a power result generated by said calculating the power generated by the body step based on said running style determination.