An autonomously controlled ankle exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation. This project addresses a critical problem in gait rehabilitation; predicting unstable locomotion and designing interventions to augment limb-joint function. The project will develop an autonomous ankle-foot assistive device to actively increase ground clearance when high-risk foot trajectory is detected. Using wearable sensor data, machine learning algorithms will predict high-risk gait and compute an actuator-induced ankle to ....An autonomously controlled ankle exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation. This project addresses a critical problem in gait rehabilitation; predicting unstable locomotion and designing interventions to augment limb-joint function. The project will develop an autonomous ankle-foot assistive device to actively increase ground clearance when high-risk foot trajectory is detected. Using wearable sensor data, machine learning algorithms will predict high-risk gait and compute an actuator-induced ankle torque to maintain safe foot-ground clearance. A wearable autonomous joint-actuation system will contribute significantly to rehabilitation across a range of gait-impaired populations. The project's scientific and technological innovations will provide the opportunity for future developments in assistive technologies. Read moreRead less
Evaluating the impact of obesity on knee load over time in those who have undergone optimal surgical re-alignment after total knee replacement . This project investigates the impact of obesity on alignment and knee load over time in those who have undergone total knee replacement. This information is critical for understanding whether obesity results in increasing knee load after surgery which can lead to more rapid wearing of the knee surfaces and an earlier need for revision surgery.
A Wearable Motion Analysis System: Novel Clinical and Research Applications. Because the biomechanical analysis of human motion is confined to the laboratory, it often has restricted applicability. This is a recognized limitation, because laboratory studies cannot capture the true picture of how individuals move under conditions encountered during daily living. Consequently there are many situations where a more complete and realistic knowledge of biomechanics would be significant advantage such ....A Wearable Motion Analysis System: Novel Clinical and Research Applications. Because the biomechanical analysis of human motion is confined to the laboratory, it often has restricted applicability. This is a recognized limitation, because laboratory studies cannot capture the true picture of how individuals move under conditions encountered during daily living. Consequently there are many situations where a more complete and realistic knowledge of biomechanics would be significant advantage such as in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of movement disorders and injuries. The research project described in this proposal would for the first time, obtain comprehensive biomechanical data outside the laboratory using a fully integrated wearable motion analysis system.Read moreRead less
Influence of athletic footwear on lower limb biomechanics of pubertal girls. This project aims to determine whether athletic footwear with appropriate design features can help improve neuromuscular control and, in doing so, reduce the potentially deleterious forces on the knee and lower limb structures of pubertal girls. As girls reach puberty, they become less able to control the movement patterns of their lower limbs, particularly in high-demand tasks like running and jumping. Better-designed ....Influence of athletic footwear on lower limb biomechanics of pubertal girls. This project aims to determine whether athletic footwear with appropriate design features can help improve neuromuscular control and, in doing so, reduce the potentially deleterious forces on the knee and lower limb structures of pubertal girls. As girls reach puberty, they become less able to control the movement patterns of their lower limbs, particularly in high-demand tasks like running and jumping. Better-designed footwear for pubertal girls may improve movement patterns, decrease the likelihood of musculoskeletal injury and improve physical activity participation rates. Project outcomes may lead to the development of such footwear, and are also anticipated to expand our understanding of female developmental biomechanics.Read moreRead less
Athletic footwear for reducing knee loads in girls and women. This project aims to develop a novel athletic shoe that can reduce harmful knee loads during sport in adolescent girls and young women. As girls reach puberty, they become less able to control the movement patterns of their knees and lower limbs - particularly in high-demand tasks like jumping. The project will develop a new ASICS shoe that will be ‘field-tested’ during sporting activity with high ACL injury risk (netball) to evaluate ....Athletic footwear for reducing knee loads in girls and women. This project aims to develop a novel athletic shoe that can reduce harmful knee loads during sport in adolescent girls and young women. As girls reach puberty, they become less able to control the movement patterns of their knees and lower limbs - particularly in high-demand tasks like jumping. The project will develop a new ASICS shoe that will be ‘field-tested’ during sporting activity with high ACL injury risk (netball) to evaluate its effect on tibial shock (in-field surrogate measure of knee load) and player comfort compared to a conventional shoe. Expected outcomes include reduced healthcare costs associated with the treatment of serious knee injury, including surgical reconstruction and early-onset knee osteoarthritis.Read moreRead less
Influence of an innovative shoe design on lower limb joint loading during walking. This project will provide new knowledge about the effects of shoe design features on lower limb loading and the influence of obesity and knee condition on the shoe-mediated biomechanical effects. This will be of relevance to researchers and clinicians. It is also likely to contribute to a marketable commercial product, a shoe designed to reduce knee loading. This shoe has the potential to contribute to reducing th ....Influence of an innovative shoe design on lower limb joint loading during walking. This project will provide new knowledge about the effects of shoe design features on lower limb loading and the influence of obesity and knee condition on the shoe-mediated biomechanical effects. This will be of relevance to researchers and clinicians. It is also likely to contribute to a marketable commercial product, a shoe designed to reduce knee loading. This shoe has the potential to contribute to reducing the societal and personal burden of knee osteoarthritis, one of the most prevalent and costly chronic conditions in the developed world. Read moreRead less
Development and evaluation of a remote monitoring system and its application to cardiac rehabilitation and occupational health. This project further develops and evaluates a system developed by the Industry Partner which permits real-time remote monitoring of a person's cardiac activity, position and velocity via GPS, and selected aspects of motion and posture using accelerometry. The study has three aims: to enhance the system's capacity for remote monitoring of human motion and physiology; to ....Development and evaluation of a remote monitoring system and its application to cardiac rehabilitation and occupational health. This project further develops and evaluates a system developed by the Industry Partner which permits real-time remote monitoring of a person's cardiac activity, position and velocity via GPS, and selected aspects of motion and posture using accelerometry. The study has three aims: to enhance the system's capacity for remote monitoring of human motion and physiology; to test its ability to support cardiac rehabilitation for those unable to access hospital-based programs; and to evaluate its application to the monitoring of workloads in physically demanding tasks associated with cardiovascular ill-health and musculoskeletal injury.Read moreRead less