Mechanics & Control Of Movement
Faculty who study Mechanics and Control of Movement are broadly interested in the forces that produce movement, how movement is organized for the performance of skilled actions, underlying neuromechanical process involved and potential consequences including injury.
Areas of specific focus include motor learning, biomechanics, physical and cognitive ergonomics, human factors, injury prevention, visual regulation of movement, gait, sensorimotor control, musculoskeletal anatomy and rehabilitation.
We use research methods and techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, computer modeling, electromyography, motion analysis, transcranial magnetic stimulation, image-guided stimulators, eye-trackers, and three-dimensional motion capture to explore this field.
Information Box Group
Michael Carter
Associate Professor
My students and I are interested in how the human brain controls and learns skilled actions in healthy and clinical populations. We also conduct metascience research to gain insights into research practices within kinesiology and related areas.
Peter Keir
Professor; Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
My basic interest is determining in how the body works combining mechanics and control, and consequently, how it gets injured. My research aims to determine the mechanisms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity from the fingers to the shoulder (and occasionally some other parts). These disorders tend to occur over a long period of time through complex pathways. By developing a solid link between control and mechanics, we can define the mechanisms of disorders such that they can be better rehabilitated and, ultimately, prevented. We examine disorders of muscle tissue (e.g. myalgia), connective tissue (e.g. tendinitis, epicondylitis), and peripheral nerve (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome). To reach these research objectives, we use both basic (laboratory) and applied (laboratory and field) studies. My research tools include ultrasound, MRI, tissue measurement, computer modeling, electromyography (surface and fine wire EMG), various dynamometers, data trackers, and motion analysis.
Dylan Kobsar
Associate Professor; Associate Chair, Research
My research is aimed at making biomechanics and human movement analyses more accessible and real-world relevant. Specifically, this work focuses on the use of wearable inertial sensors to help track and treat musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. When we think of wearable sensors, we often think of fitness tracking watches, but in fact wearable sensors have the capabilities to collect a variety of detailed human movement data similar to conventional motion capture gait laboratories. Further, when we combine these devices with innovative analyses (e.g., machine learning algorithms) and visualization techniques, a whole new world of possibilities for assessing human movement is realized. To this point, my research has used these accessible devices and innovative techniques to uncover patterns in human movement that can help us better understand the progression and treatment of individuals with knee osteoarthritis and running injuries.Interesting in joining the lab? Please submit your information here
Dylan Kobsar
Associate Professor; Associate Chair, Research
Aimee Nelson
Professor
The purpose of my research is to develop fundamental understanding of the cortical control of the human hand and upper limb. My research program is focused on the somatosensory contributions to motor control; human hand control is profoundly dependent on the integrity of somatosensory input that arises from touch and muscle receptors. Multiple cortical areas receive and process somatosensory input yet little is known about the role of these areas in the control of human hand movement. My research program is primarily focused on investigating the role of somatosensory loci in the control of hand movement in healthy and clinical populations. Students in my lab use a combination of neurophysiology techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Michael Carter
Associate Professor
My students and I are interested in how the human brain controls and learns skilled actions in healthy and clinical populations. We also conduct metascience research to gain insights into research practices within kinesiology and related areas.
Michael Carter
Associate Professor
My students and I are interested in how the human brain controls and learns skilled actions in healthy and clinical populations. We also conduct metascience research to gain insights into research practices within kinesiology and related areas.
Peter Keir
Professor; Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
My basic interest is determining in how the body works combining mechanics and control, and consequently, how it gets injured. My research aims to determine the mechanisms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity from the fingers to the shoulder (and occasionally some other parts). These disorders tend to occur over a long period of time through complex pathways. By developing a solid link between control and mechanics, we can define the mechanisms of disorders such that they can be better rehabilitated and, ultimately, prevented. We examine disorders of muscle tissue (e.g. myalgia), connective tissue (e.g. tendinitis, epicondylitis), and peripheral nerve (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome). To reach these research objectives, we use both basic (laboratory) and applied (laboratory and field) studies. My research tools include ultrasound, MRI, tissue measurement, computer modeling, electromyography (surface and fine wire EMG), various dynamometers, data trackers, and motion analysis.
Peter Keir
Professor; Associate Chair, Graduate Studies
My basic interest is determining in how the body works combining mechanics and control, and consequently, how it gets injured. My research aims to determine the mechanisms of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity from the fingers to the shoulder (and occasionally some other parts). These disorders tend to occur over a long period of time through complex pathways. By developing a solid link between control and mechanics, we can define the mechanisms of disorders such that they can be better rehabilitated and, ultimately, prevented. We examine disorders of muscle tissue (e.g. myalgia), connective tissue (e.g. tendinitis, epicondylitis), and peripheral nerve (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome). To reach these research objectives, we use both basic (laboratory) and applied (laboratory and field) studies. My research tools include ultrasound, MRI, tissue measurement, computer modeling, electromyography (surface and fine wire EMG), various dynamometers, data trackers, and motion analysis.
Dylan Kobsar
Associate Professor; Associate Chair, Research
My research is aimed at making biomechanics and human movement analyses more accessible and real-world relevant. Specifically, this work focuses on the use of wearable inertial sensors to help track and treat musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. When we think of wearable sensors, we often think of fitness tracking watches, but in fact wearable sensors have the capabilities to collect a variety of detailed human movement data similar to conventional motion capture gait laboratories. Further, when we combine these devices with innovative analyses (e.g., machine learning algorithms) and visualization techniques, a whole new world of possibilities for assessing human movement is realized. To this point, my research has used these accessible devices and innovative techniques to uncover patterns in human movement that can help us better understand the progression and treatment of individuals with knee osteoarthritis and running injuries.Interesting in joining the lab? Please submit your information here
Dylan Kobsar
Associate Professor; Associate Chair, Research
My research is aimed at making biomechanics and human movement analyses more accessible and real-world relevant. Specifically, this work focuses on the use of wearable inertial sensors to help track and treat musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. When we think of wearable sensors, we often think of fitness tracking watches, but in fact wearable sensors have the capabilities to collect a variety of detailed human movement data similar to conventional motion capture gait laboratories. Further, when we combine these devices with innovative analyses (e.g., machine learning algorithms) and visualization techniques, a whole new world of possibilities for assessing human movement is realized. To this point, my research has used these accessible devices and innovative techniques to uncover patterns in human movement that can help us better understand the progression and treatment of individuals with knee osteoarthritis and running injuries.Interesting in joining the lab? Please submit your information here
Aimee Nelson
Professor
The purpose of my research is to develop fundamental understanding of the cortical control of the human hand and upper limb. My research program is focused on the somatosensory contributions to motor control; human hand control is profoundly dependent on the integrity of somatosensory input that arises from touch and muscle receptors. Multiple cortical areas receive and process somatosensory input yet little is known about the role of these areas in the control of human hand movement. My research program is primarily focused on investigating the role of somatosensory loci in the control of hand movement in healthy and clinical populations. Students in my lab use a combination of neurophysiology techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Aimee Nelson
Professor
The purpose of my research is to develop fundamental understanding of the cortical control of the human hand and upper limb. My research program is focused on the somatosensory contributions to motor control; human hand control is profoundly dependent on the integrity of somatosensory input that arises from touch and muscle receptors. Multiple cortical areas receive and process somatosensory input yet little is known about the role of these areas in the control of human hand movement. My research program is primarily focused on investigating the role of somatosensory loci in the control of hand movement in healthy and clinical populations. Students in my lab use a combination of neurophysiology techniques including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging.