Applied biomechanics

UCRISE and the Applied Biomechanics research theme has a dedicated research facility equipped with state-of-the-art biomechanical measurement systems. These systems enable us to accurately measure human motion in both the laboratory and field-based environments. Equipment in the laboratory includes:

• Vicon motion capture system to accurately capture three-dimensional movement of the body in motion during sport, activities of daily living and recreation.
• AMTI force platforms (400 x 600 mm) to quantify the three orthogonal components of the forces generated at foot ground contact during activities such as landing.
• Treadmetrix Instrumented treadmill to quantify the three orthogonal components of the forces generated at foot ground contact during running.
• Delsys Trigno 16 channel EMG system to measure muscle activation patterns and intensity during dynamic movements.
• IMU inertial sensors for measurement of body segment accelerations and rotations during field based sport and activity.
• Ultrasound system for imaging internal anatomical structures, such as muscles and muscle fascicles.
• Novel Pliance system to measure the pressures generated at the skin surface under various objects, such as bra straps and backpack straps, as well as between a cricket ball and fingers.
• Infoot 3D foot scanner to quantify the three-dimensional shape of an individual’s foot.
• Artec Leo 3D scanner to quantify the three-dimensional shape of anatomical structures such as the breast.
• 4 Gymaware Linear Encoders to measure displacement and velocity i.e in countermovement jumps and barbell-based exercises.
• Fusion Sport Jump Mat – to measure ground reaction time and subsequent variables such as RSI
• Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull – Kistler force plates and a fixed bar system (FitTechh) allow the calculation of peak force and RFD in this gold standard test measure

UCRISE also houses several other items for assessing and musculoskeletal structure and function such as anthropometers, calipers, goniometers, digital still cameras, and a variety of force transducers. We also use Telemed Ultrasound System, Vicon Nexus software, BodyBuilder, MatLab, Novel software, STEP software and Artec CAD software for data collection and analysis.