Gait Lab

The Gait Lab allows researchers to analyze human gait using an instrumented treadmill and a motion analysis state-of-the-art kinematic data collection system. The current focus of the lab is to analyze the association of 3D running biomechanics with injury and the management of running-related injury. The lab is also used for clinical assessment of walking and running to assist our clinicians with diagnosis and treatment plans.

Current Research Studies

Hip Labrum Project

Main Researcher: Olivia Brooker, AT (Master's of AT Student)

The purpose of this research is to identify differences that occur in female collegiate athletes walking and running gait with a known labral pathology compared to healthy individuals. Identifying trends in those who have been diagnosed with labral pathology is critical to understanding why athletes may not be recovering from their initial injury or developing new injuries consistently. Data collection can be used in the future in rehabilitation and gait retraining.

Running Injuries Project

Main Researcher: Yelyzaveta 'Lisa' Kharchenko, AT (Master's of AT Student)

Biomechanical abnormalities associated with running-related injuries in physically active individuals with a history of lower extremity injuries compared to healthy individuals”. The primary objective of this study is to compare the biomechanical data between two groups of participants that will include athletes with a past or present history of running-related injuries, and athletes with no history of injuries related to running. This data will be used to determine the significant differences in each component of the running gait in injured and non-injured populations, and how these differences contribute to the development of running-related injuries. It is hypothesized that there will be significant differences in running gait pattern variables between athletes with a history of injuries and the non-injured populations which contributes to the higher risk of the development of running-related injuries.