Motion Analysis

What to Expect:

The duration of the test is approximately 1 hour.  During this time, you will be asked to perform activities of daily living such as walking, sitting, standing, and squatting.  You will only be required to conduct these activities for 20-30 minutes with frequent breaks.  You may sit down at any time to rest or if you are experiencing any discomfort.

There will not be any use of invasive techniques (i.e. no medicine, chemicals, or needles).  Small light-reflecting markers will be placed on your head, arms, torso, hips, knees, and ankles to capture your movement.

• You will be asked to change into fitted sports shorts and shirt. We will provide both.
• We prefer that you are barefoot during your session, however if you are uncomfortable with this we ask that you wear comfortable "low top" non-reflective sneakers or walking shoes. 
• If possible, we ask that men do not wear "boxer" underwear and that women do not wear "girdle" underwear.  This will make it easier for the researchers to place the necessary markers on your legs and torso.
• Please do NOT use lotion on the testing day.  This will interfere with our ability to place markers and retrieve data from our electrodes.
• Be prepared that we will be placing tape directly onto some areas of your skin (mainly arms and legs), so please let us know if you have any allergies.

Prior to the test, measurements of leg lengths, height, and weight will be collected. You will be asked to complete short questionnaires pertaining to your daily activities, pain level, and physical condition.

                                                                                           

Subject Recruitment:


Volunteers are always welcome to participate. We have various categories that we are recruiting candidates for:

Normal Subjects

These are very important in our studies because they serve as a benchmark for comparison. The requirements to qualify for this category are listed below.

• No current injury to the lower extremities (hips, thighs, knees, shanks, ankles, or foot) that alters they way you normally walk, run, sit, or stand
• No prior surgery to the lower extremities, back, or neck
• Must be able to walk, sit, and stand unassisted
• Must be 18 years of age or older

Surgical Patients

We are currently testing Dr. Barnes' surgical candidates. These patients are tested prior to surgery, 6 weeks following surgery, 3 months following surgery, and 1 year following surgery. The staff at HKA will contact patients prior to their surgery date to schedule their first session.

Brace Study Patients

We are conducting a new brace study! We need volunteers to participate. The requirements are listed below:

• Same requirements for Normal Subjects
• The circumference around the center of knee must be between 14-15 inches
• This session will take approxiamately 1.5 or 2 hours