Children’s Hospital Colorado upgrades its Gait Lab with Vicon’s Valkyrie camera system, advancing motion capture for pediatric gait analysis and treatment planning.
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| With a major camera system upgrade, Children’s Hospital Colorado strengthens its national leadership in pediatric gait analysis and personalized mobility care. Image: CHC |
Aurora, United States – August 4, 2025:
Children’s Hospital Colorado has announced a major technology upgrade to its renowned Center for Gait and Movement Analysis, also known as the Gait Lab, now equipped with the latest motion capture camera system, Valkyrie by Vicon. As the only accredited clinical gait and movement lab in the region and one of just 18 across the nation, this advancement positions the lab at the forefront of pediatric motion analysis.
The upgraded camera system represents a significant leap in diagnostic precision and treatment planning. “Our goal is to help our patients be as mobile and active as possible,” said Lucas Moore, program developer for the Gait Lab. “We are thrilled we can now offer new technology. With updated camera capabilities, our ability to better see how a patient’s body moves during a clinical gait analysis helps our team evaluate data quicker and craft the best treatment plans.”
Vicon, a global leader in motion capture technology, introduced its Valkyrie system in 2024. Children’s Hospital Colorado, which has been using Vicon products for more than 25 years, adopted Valkyrie to further enhance its capacity to conduct real-time motion diagnostics using 3D motion kinetics and kinematics. These technologies enable the team to capture detailed movement data while a child walks—with or without mobility aids like crutches, walkers, or braces.
Serving around 550 patients each year, the Gait Lab provides critical analysis for children from across Colorado and neighboring states such as Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Montana. The patients seen here are often managing neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, joint instability, prosthetic use, and balance disorders.
What sets the lab apart is its ability to merge clinical expertise across fields like physical therapy, orthopedic surgery, physiatry, engineering, and kinesiology. Using advanced video tools and motion capture sensors, the team creates digital avatars of each child’s movement patterns. This allows for in-depth, personalized assessment of gait, posture, and muscle activity. The same core technology used in high-end film and video game production to animate digital characters is now being used to optimize mobility for children facing complex medical challenges.
“This upgrade will ensure the Center for Gait and Movement Analysis continues to be on the forefront of motion capture technology as they have been for over 25 years,” said George Miller, senior account manager at Vicon. With Valkyrie, the lab gains access to a networked suite of optical motion capture cameras that deliver both real-time and offline digital analysis—significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of care.
Children’s Colorado first adopted Vicon technology in 2007 and has now implemented five different Vicon camera systems over the years. The integration of Valkyrie underscores the institution’s long-term commitment to pioneering pediatric mobility care and its mission to improve the lives of children across the region through technology, collaboration, and innovation.