Motion Analysis Laboratory

        The motion analysis laboratory was built for quantitative, whole-body movement assessments and is located on the ground floor of the Kennedy Krieger Institute.  Several techniques are used to quantify movement including: 3-dimensional tracking and reconstruction of movement kinematics, force plate recordings, recordings of muscle activity, and calculation of joint forces and torques.  The laboratory is equipped with an Optotrak motion measurement system (Northern Digital Inc.) with 2, infrared 3-D position sensors.  These sensors allow for tracking of infrared markers placed on the joints of the body, bilaterally.  Using the Optotrak system, we can make very precise measurements of natural movements including but not limited to; walking, reaching (see figure), leg movements, hand movements and standing balance.  The laboratory houses 2 Kistler force plates, which allow for measurement of the forces exerted on the floor by a person standing, walking or running.  In addition, equipment to record surface muscle activity (electromyography or EMG) is available.  A custom treadmill was recently purchased that allows for the control of the two legs independently (split-belt treadmill). 

There are several active projects in the motion analysis laboratory at this time.  Most of the work is focused on understanding motor disorders in adults and children who have damage or disease of the central nervous system.  The main goals of these studies are to understand the mechanisms of different types of motor disorders and determine how and why different treatments improve movement.  Ongoing studies are also aimed at determining how new movements are learned and what the course of movement recovery following different types brain damage is.  One specific focus of the laboratory is determining how cerebellar damage causes limb and gait ataxia.  This work is funded by the National Institutes of Health.  Other active studies in the laboratory address the movement disorders and treatments associated with cerebral palsy, adrenomyeloneuropathy, and Parkinson’s disease.  Overall, the quantitative information that can be obtained from the motion analysis laboratory can provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of movement deficits and allow investigators to detect very small changes in movement performance over time or with treatment. 

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