MEET THE MOVCENTR

Anaëlle's Story

Anaëlle has worked at the Biomechanics Research Building for a little over a year. She moved to Omaha after completing her Master in Exercise Science at Arkansas State University. Throughout her athletic career as a former Division I Track and Field athlete, Anaelle grew an interest for human performance and biomechanics. After being introduced to the UNO Biomechanics program by Dr. Stergiou at a research conference she was attending, her interest shifted to Human Movement Variability. Anaelle was excited to approach biomechanics from a new perspective to fulfill her research goals.

Despite a challenging first year due to COVID, Anaelle is enjoying being part of the UNO Biomechanics program. Her favorite part about working at the Biomechanics Research Building (BRB) is being able to exchange research ideas with other graduate students and relying on the built-in support system available to her.

“Working at the BRB feels like being part of a big family. It’s a great environment to learn from each other.”

Anaelle strives to develop her skillset towards becoming a well-rounded scientist. In the future she would like to apply her knowledge to the clinical field.

Many of our students moved across the country or even across the world to study biomechanics. Because of COVID many of them had to do it alone. We would like to applaud these students on their perseverance and determination

“Moving to a new city in the middle of a Pandemic, on top of starting a Ph.D. was by far one of the most challenging experiences of my life.”

The summer has been a busy time for the MOVCENTR. Faculty members acquired over $3 million in external funding. This semester we are highlighting our grant successes. This is our fifth such highlight!

GRANTS GRANTS GRANTS!

University of Nebraska Research Development Program Award

COBRE Phase II Core Director, Dr. David Kingston received $80,000 for his project titled, Gait mechanics of treadmill and overground walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP) following fixed knee flexion deformity surgery.

Project Focus: Fixed knee flexion deformities (FKFD) are often present in children with CP that limit knee range of motion (ROM) to a characteristic ‘crouched’ gait. Surgery is often required for FKFD treatment, but traditional approaches are highly invasive, limiting independent walking for months, and requiring years of rehabilitation. This project will provide a critical baseline for tracking segmental coordination, muscular demand, and metabolic cost as the child develops in pre-pubescence and their FKFD improves.

National Strategic Research Award

COBRE Phase II Core Director, Dr. Aaron Likens, received $91,000 for his project titled, Repeated Bouts of Physical Stress: A Lab Based Simulated Multiday Mission Scenario.

Project Focus: This project involves developing and testing a set of tools to detect soldier fatigue resulting from prolonged bouts of physical stress. The Readiness Toolkit entails a software suite of nonlinear time series analysis methods developed specifically for application to human movements. These tools figure prominently in cutting edge research on human movements and have great promise for the prediction of individual and group fatigue and readiness.

SAVE THE DATES: MAY 18-20, 2022

The 3rd Annual Great Plains Biomechanics Conference and the 7th Annual Human Movement Variability Conference

This year’s conferences will offer a hybrid format and have both an in-person and a virtual component. This will be a two-day event plus one virtual day and pre-conference workshops.

Featuring Keynote Speakers:

• *Great Plains Biomechanics Keynote Speaker: Dr. Andre Seyfarth, Technical University of Darmstadt
• *Human Movement Variability Barry T. Bates Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jaap Van Dieen, VU Amsterdam

Activity Schedule overview:

• *Tours of the BRB, socials, keynote presentations, poster and podium presentations and awards
• *Pre-Conference Workshops, May 16-17, 2022: Phase Space Reconstruction, Measure Phase Space Dynamics, Measures of Uncertainty, Fractals and Multifractals
• *Virtual Poster Presentations, presented by Podium
• *Livestream for keynote and podium presentations

WEBINARS

RESEARCH CORE EQUIPMENT

Noraxon Pressure Plates

The Movement Analysis Core (MOVAN) recently purchased two FDM 1.5 Pressure Walkways from Noraxon. The walkways are 1.5 m but are physically joined to create a 3-meter long one. Each pressure walkway consists of many individually calibrated capacitive force sensors, enabling analysis of the distribution of forces that occur under the feet during standing or walking. The walkway can be used to analyze foot deformities, foot function, and pressure distribution while walking. The accompanying software allows immediate feedback and automatic generation of reports. If you are interested in a demo or would like to find out if these could work for a potential study, please contact MOVAN at bmchmovan@unomaha.edu.

RESEARCH CORES

Machining and Prototyping Core
Dr. Brian Knarr, Core Director
Contact: bmchmpcore@unomaha.edu

The Machining and Prototyping Core Facility involves the use of three major facilities within the University of Nebraska at Omaha Biomechanics Research Building: The Machine Shop, Design Studio, and the 3D Printing Laboratory. The most basic function of the Core is to provide services that utilize these spaces and their personnel and equipment. These services are for professional in the University of Nebraska system, the local area, but also to people outside our state to progress their research or other projects. This core can design, prototype, manufacture and repair, maintain, or install a wide range of devices and instrumentation.

Movement Analysis Core
Dr. David Kingston
Contact: bmchmovan@unomaha.edu

The Movement Analysis Core provides resources, education, advisement and services related to the analysis of human movement. Equipment such as motion capture, dynamometry, electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, virtual reality and high-speed digital video are provided. Contact the core for a comprehensive PDF of our facilities, resources and services.

Nonlinear Analysis Core
Dr. Aaron Likens, Core Director
Contact: bmchnonan@unomaha.edu

The Nonlinear Analysis Core provides resources and services necessary for innovative analysis of human movement. These methods go beyond averages by looking at the time-varying characteristics of a time signal. The Core provides access to a multitude of nonlinear analysis tools, assistance in experimental design, data processing, quality assurance, interpretation and dissemination. The Core is also actively exploring and validating new techniques and algorithms for future use. In addition to our nonlinear methods, standard analyses can also be performed.