A primary theme of our research is understanding the fundamental relationships between upper and lower extremity prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) devices and the health, function, and mobility outcomes of these device users. This basic clinical research includes comparative effectiveness of commercial devices, assessing links between mechanical function of devices and rehabilitation outcomes, and characterizing the mechanical properties of prosthetic and orthotic technology. As such, we incorporate combinations of human subject testing, bench testing, and numerical simulation to investigate contributors to musculoskeletal health, dynamic balance, and perception of P&O device users. This research activity is critical to building the evidence base for enhancing rehabilitation clinical practice of persons with musculoskeletal or neurological pathology.
The mechanical function of prosthetic and orthotic devices share a close relationship with health and mobility outcomes. Our research is concerned with developing standardized methods for characterizing the mechanical properties (stiffness, damping, roll over geometry) of lower limb P&O devices to inform prescription guidelines, enhance assistive device classification schemes for healthcare policy, and facilitate inclusion of device properties in human performance studies.
The ability to integrate sensory feedback and control balance is a critical precondition to safe mobility and avoiding falls. Another track of our research is focused on understanding the sensorimotor mechanisms underlying postural control and locomotor stability of individuals with musculoskeletal or neurological impairments. These studies involve assessments of an individual’s motor response when presented with non-steady environments and postural disturbances. Through novel experimental designs, including gait and standing perturbations, and motion capture technology, we aim to develop rehabilitation interventions to enhance balance and mobility.
