Motion Analysis –  Three programs related to human movement are represented in the Motional Capture Laboratory. High speed videography, electromyography and force measurement are utilized to accomplish the goals of the program under this umbrella.

The Pediatric Gait Program –  is a clinical program that analyzes the function of children with neuromuscular disease. This analysis is used by orthopaedists and physical therapists in the surgical and therapeutic decision making processes for these young patients.

Gait Laboratory –  studies human locomotion and function during activities of daily living in adults with joint replacement and physical disabilities. The findings from this research aid implant manufacturers and clinicians in designing and implementing better devices and therapies.

Sports Biomechanics –  studies healthy athletes, athletes with disabilities or injuries, as well as those with orthopaedic devices. The primary research goal is injury prevention through the analysis of function and performance in a wide array of sporting activities. From the professional to the weekend enthusiast, avoiding injury is the best way to maintain an active lifestyle.

Microscopy – Probing materials with superior surface finish and novel chemistry requires a sophisticated array of instruments and technologies. The Orthopaedic Research Laboratory utilizes scanning electron microscopy, x-ray spectroscopy, and high magnification light microscopy to assess the minute details of implant materials and the cellular components of bone and other musculoskeletal tissues. Given the infinite complexities of the human body, sometimes the smallest of details can mean the difference between long-term success and dismal failure of a new implantable device.

Materials Testing – Dynamic simulation and stress evaluations of existing and prototype prostheses yields valuable information about the mechanics of implant function. Using a computer controlled hydraulic load testing system in the Materials Testing Lab, researchers can simulate the range of motion, stresses and movement sequences that occur at the shoulder, knee, hip or spine. Information gained from materials testing aids the development of new materials and designs capable of enduring the stresses that occur in human joints during activities of daily living.

Information Systems & Interactive Video Technology – Communication and education are key to our success as they facilitate exchange of information between surgeons, engineers, therapists, trainers and prosthesis manufacturers. The Orthopaedic Research Laboratory develops presentation tools that are conducive to making even the most technical research data easily understandable. State-of-the-art video conferencing, high-speed internet access and multimedia presentations connect our laboratory to both patients and our national and international team of collaborators.

Implant Retrieval and Biologics – The Orthopaedic Research Laboratory focuses on the challenge of evaluating materials that can withstand the rigors of the human body while being biologically compatible with that environment. Our scientists analyze implants after they have functioned in the human body and our findings from this research aid the development of biocompatible, longer lasting materials and implant designs.

Human Performance Laboratory – At The Orthopaedic Research Laboratory we study the function and mobility of many different groups of people, from children, to high performance athletes, to the senior community. We answer questions about how medical advances can help people maintain or restore their movement for their lifetime. To fully appreciate the potentials of human performance laboratory, one has to examine the equipment accessible to the researchers.

Have you ever wondered how Hollywood film animators make computer generated characters move so realistically? The answer is, they don't! They use a set of cameras to record the 3D motion of actors moving around a stage. This motion can then be used to create movement for any kind of animated character. How does this relate to the new Human Performance Lab? This same cutting edge technology used to make blockbuster films and amazingly realistic video games is right here in our new research facility.

Housed within the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, the Human Performance Lab is a key part of the biotechnology solutions we offer to the medical and scientific community. No single piece of technology or experiment can accomplish everything, but by combining different types of high tech diagnostic tools and expert clinical input, we address the issues that most affect our patients, such as:

› Precise analysis of physically disabled children and streamlining their treatment
› Sports performance analysis and injury prevention
› New orthopaedic treatment techniques and devices
› Reversing the effects of aging on mobility

Our newly installed ten-camera motion-capture and analysis system, is suitable for a multi-million dollar film or human performance evaluation, in the new high tech research facility. This system is able to process and reconstruct motion data hundreds of times faster than previous systems. Now, it takes only minutes to produce 3D videos of our studies that we can show to patients, enabling us to explain what they are seeing and how each evaluation affects them in a very real way. Supplementing this data, we are also able to collect a patient's walking forces from sensor plates in the floor and muscle activations from skin mounted EMG (electromyography) electrodes.

These ground reaction forces can tell us not only how much force someone is putting on each leg as they walk or perform a specific activity but also help us predict the loads put on various parts of the body like your spine or your knee. Measuring muscle activations with EMG allows us to identify which muscles fire and when they fire during any task. Abnormal activation patterns signal an underlying problem with the mechanics of the system or the neural-muscular control of the patient. Finally, the Human Performance Lab also applies fluoroscopy, which acquires safe, low-dose x-ray movies allowing a look inside the body to study and analyze certain movements of the spine, joints and bones in a unique way.

Our equipment is used to provide highly accurate information to physicians, which translates into better diagnostics and more precise medical care delivered directly to patients. BioMotion provides medical device companies and bioengineers crucial performance data on implant designs and treatment methods demonstrating how they can be improved.