Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Waterloo
$91,830.00
Portable motion capture system for biomechanics research
FY 2009-10
Summary
Falls account for 30% of all hospital admissions in Canada, and are the second leading cause of injury after motor vehicle collisions. Work-related back injuries are responsible for 44% of all injuries that require time away from work. Medical remedies include physical training, assistive devices, and even surgery. But how does one test out a potential remedy before using it on a patient? The safety implications are profound. Computer models and simulations can help, but only if the simulations give accurate results. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms that cause a loss of balance or a back injury are poorly understood.
Profs. McPhee, McGill, and Kofman have been developing fundamental theories and models to predict how humans balance and the loads that are developed in the lower back and other joints. These predictive tools can be used to diagnose and treat balance and back problems more effectively, and to design biomechatronic assistive devices, thereby reducing the occurrence and severity of preventable injuries.
Before these theoretical models can be used in medical applications, they must be validated under a variety of situations, many of which cannot be handled by conventional non-portable motion capture systems. The requested motion capture suit would allow us to analyze everyday activities such as ascending and descending stairs, driving a car, running, jumping, and other sporting activities that are typically ignored due to lab constraints. The suit provides reliable measurements of human motions that we will use to validate and refine our models. The motion capture suit will be used in tandem with our portable force plates and pressure pads to function as a traveling research clinic.
Despite over a century of effort, the underlying strategies that humans use to balance and control their muscles is poorly understood. The requested equipment will help us advance our knowledge of these phenomena to reduce the frequency and severity of preventable injuries to Canadians, by yielding better diagnostic and rehabilitation methods for clinicians.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
390857-2010
Name nom
McPhee, John
Department département
Systems Design Engineering
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
91830
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1512
Committee name en
Mechanical Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie mécanique
Area of application code
1102
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Biomedical engineering
Area of application fr
Génie biomédical
Research subject code
2102
Research subject group en
Mechanical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie mécanique
Research subject en
Dynamics
Research subject fr
Dynamique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Portable motion capture system for biomechanics research
Keyword
NA
Application summary
Falls account for 30% of all hospital admissions in Canada, and are the second leading cause of injury after motor vehicle collisions. Work-related back injuries are responsible for 44% of all injuries that require time away from work. Medical remedies include physical training, assistive devices, and even surgery. But how does one test out a potential remedy before using it on a patient? The safety implications are profound. Computer models and simulations can help, but only if the simulations give accurate results. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms that cause a loss of balance or a back injury are poorly understood.
Profs. McPhee, McGill, and Kofman have been developing fundamental theories and models to predict how humans balance and the loads that are developed in the lower back and other joints. These predictive tools can be used to diagnose and treat balance and back problems more effectively, and to design biomechatronic assistive devices, thereby reducing the occurrence and severity of preventable injuries.
Before these theoretical models can be used in medical applications, they must be validated under a variety of situations, many of which cannot be handled by conventional non-portable motion capture systems. The requested motion capture suit would allow us to analyze everyday activities such as ascending and descending stairs, driving a car, running, jumping, and other sporting activities that are typically ignored due to lab constraints. The suit provides reliable measurements of human motions that we will use to validate and refine our models. The motion capture suit will be used in tandem with our portable force plates and pressure pads to function as a traveling research clinic.
Despite over a century of effort, the underlying strategies that humans use to balance and control their muscles is poorly understood. The requested equipment will help us advance our knowledge of these phenomena to reduce the frequency and severity of preventable injuries to Canadians, by yielding better diagnostic and rehabilitation methods for clinicians.
