The Movement Biomechanics Lab (MoBL) investigates the relationship between musculoskeletal structure and measured function in the upper limb.  We focus on understanding the role that changes in the structure of the upper limb muscle paths, force-generating capacity, and joint kinematics may play in interacting with higher level coordination to produce movement and strength.

We have used what is known about upper limb muscle anatomy and physiology to create a mathematical representation that is a platform for asking questions about muscle behavior. We integrate anatomical data for muscles crossing all the major joints of the upper limb, which allows us to investigate the interactions among joints due to muscles that cross more than one joint. We can also alter this model to represent different pathologic states, including spinal cord injury and musculoskeletal surgical conditions. This model is available for researchers to use (visit the NMBLwebpage at Stanford University to download the model).

We use MR imaging, strength assessments, and functional testing to characterize upper limb function and neuromuscular control in healthy and impaired populations of subjects. We use Biodex and KinCom dynamometers to measure maximum isometric joint moments in healthy individuals of different ages. We also use MRI to characterize muscle volumes and lengths, and identify scaling relationships that govern the distribution of muscle mass in the upper limb in different populations of subjects. These data can also be used as inputs to the computational model to create models that respresent specific individuals.

We are currently investigating the role that resistance training may play in improving upper limb function in elderly subjects. We are incorporating functional assessments of reaching and pushing by using motion capture to assess loaded reaching perfomance before and after a training regimen. This work is in collaboration with Dr. Anthony Marsh in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University.

Please visit the Publications page for more details about our work.