Model demonstrates how equipment is used to monitor movement.
Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU) School of Health Sciences and Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) are collaborating on a Human Performance and Biodynamics Laboratory that merges teaching with technology and multi-disciplinary research with clinical treatment.
Physical therapists, physicians, biomedical engineers and medical students will be able to measure and evaluate motion during a variety of different activities. Researchers will focus on investigation of musculoskeletal diseases, evaluation of orthopedic implants and surgical techniques, rehabilitation approaches, and sports capabilities.
This 2,000-square-foot laboratory recently opened in the Piedmont Plaza I building at 1920 West First Street in Winston-Salem. The facility brings together the talents of two dynamic and internationally recognized faculty in the areas of education, research and clinical services related to human movement.
The two directors of the laboratory are Judy L. Foxworth, P.T., Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy in WSSU’s School of Health Sciences, and Martin Tanaka, Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering), an instructor in WFUSM’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
“This initiative provides the ideal interactions that encourage academic and intellectual pursuits, promote collaborative projects and create a sense of community, where students and faculty from both institutions contribute to and benefit from knowledge creation and dissemination process,” said Teresa Conner-Kerr, Ph.D., WSSU professor and chair of the Department of Physical Therapy (PT).
“Since physical therapists, biomedical engineers, medical students and orthopedic surgeons are all involved in the lab, we are better positioned to solve challenging problems that are often multi-disciplined in nature,” said Dr. Tanaka.
The lab includes a state-of-the-art 10-camera system to capture body motion. In addition, force plates located in the floor are used to calculate net forces within the ankle, knee, and hip joints. Walking, running, throwing, jumping, kicking and swinging can all be analyzed. Electromyographic (EMG) equipment will also be used to evaluate muscle activation during activities.
Additional equipment in the motion laboratory includes a comprehensive “pedar” system to accurately and reliable measures pressure distribution between the foot and shoe or prosthetic and residual limb during walking or other higher level activities, a metabolic cart for assessment of oxygen consumption during exercise, a Neurocom Balance Master to isolate the various components of balance, a treadmill, exercise bike, a dance barre, a Pilates table, and an immersion virtual reality system.
This high-technology laboratory will help patients resolve loss-of-balance issues or manage hip or knee pain due to osteoarthritis or following surgery. The equipment will also allow faculty to research prosthetic devices and mobility issues to assist returning veterans with recovery.
“The laboratory will play a key role for WSSU in the education of graduate physical therapy students providing access to the latest in human movement analysis equipment, and the ability to work with an interdisciplinary team to evaluate evidence based practices” said Dr. Foxworth.
For the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, the lab will provide the ability to conduct research on how disease, surgery and treatments affect movement. “For example, we would like to know more about how a surgery affects the patient’s ability to perform activities,” said Tanaka. “This can be done by comparing results from analyses conducted prior to and following surgery.”
Of particular interest are detecting subtle differences during high performance activities and evaluating of high performance prosthetics to detect differences that are not noticeable with visual inspection alone. The laboratory is a resource for research and education of graduate and medical students, as well as for residents and fellows.
If you would like to learn more about the motion lab click on this link http://www.wssu.edu/nr/rdonlyres/vault/MooV/Motion%20Capture%20Video/PhySciBioDynLab.mov
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