Neuromechanics and Applied Locomotion Lab at the University of Utah
Real-World Locomotion
Daily life requires walking in a wide variety of situations. We walk in open spaces, but also crowded hallways. We walk in straight lines, except when we don't. We walk and talk and think all at the same time! Our research focuses on understanding how we perform these common, yet complex, locomotor tasks.
Improving mobility using a multi-disciplinary approach
Situated within the Cognitive and Motor Neuroscience research theme, we concentrate on the intersection of biomechanics and neural control during real-world locomotion to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and functional rehabilitation of populations with impaired mobility. Towards this goal, we study populations with traumatically induced injury (e.g., concussion) or neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease) to understand how physiological changes influence balance and gait. We value collaborations with engineers, clinicians, physical therapists, and neuroscientists to synthesize and apply our knowledge of locomotion and balance to improve people's lives.
Research Areas
Humans are inherently unstable - we resemble an inverted pendulum that is constantly falling over. Humans use a variety of strategies to stay upright, including using torque about the ankles or hips when standing, controlling the placement of their foot when walking, and even using their arms to provide a stabilizing counter-rotation. Our work probes how individuals maintain stability and -in the event of perturbations- regain stability.
Example: We actively control where we place our foot when walking over uneven ground. For example, we may modify where we place our foot if we see an uneven patch of ground or an upcoming rock. Using a custom mechanized shoe, we study how individuals use different information to control their foot placement and regulate stability during walking and turning. We've found that while it is important to know when a perturbation will occur and to have enough time to prepare, knowing what you will encounter is most important to improving your balance recovery.
Stability during walking and standing
Common, yet complex, locomotion
While most gait research has considered straight gait, we do not walk in a straight line with no added tasks. Simultaneous cognitive tasks and turns are commonplace in everyday locomotion and may pose a greater risk of adverse events. Our work examines the kinematics and kinetics of gait to probe how people walk in everyday life, and how neurological injury or disease affects tasks representative of daily living.
Example: People with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) turn their bodies slower when walking along a winding path. While people with mTBI also tend to walk slower than healthy individuals, only turning outcomes related to self-reported complaints of headache, nausea, and other somatic symptoms, suggesting a sought-after link between self-reported symptoms and mobility may reside in turning and non-straight gait.
Inertial sensors for clinical gait and balance assessments
Inertial sensors are becoming increasingly popular for gait and mobility analysis. Our work uses inertial sensors to probe clinical questions in a more objective way using both commercial and in-house algorithms.
Example: Inertial sensors can capture objective measures of reactive responses - an important component of balance that enables us to regain balance after a loss of stability. We are using inertial sensors to quantify reactive balance in NCAA collegiate athletes to better understand musculoskeletal injury risk and concussion recovery. Our results indicate that the longer someone takes to recover their balance, quantified using inertial sensors, the higher the risk for future musculoskeletal injury.
Neuroanatomical origins of motor dysfunction post-concussion
Our research team collaborates with autonomic neurologists and neuropsychologists who focus on neuroimaging to understand how motor behavior interacts with physiology after mild traumatic brain injuries (e.g., concussions).
Example: The brainstem contains several key nuclei for motor function and serving as a pathway for all ascending sensory information and descending motor commands to and from subcortical and cortical structures. Yet, the brainstem is relatively understudied in people with mild traumatic brain injury. We use high-definition magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition and then deterministic tractography techniques to create profiles of various white matter tracts in the brainstem. We are now examining the relationship between these important markers of brain health to other measures of motor function.
Nonlinear dynamic analysis of human movement
Human movement is complex and resembles nonlinear dynamical systems. Utilizing analyses stemming from nonlinear dynamics to assess the structure of locomotor and postural control, our research examines how neurophysiological changes impact locomotor and postural stability.
Example: Using data from a tri-axial accelerometer, we can separate walking and turning bouts to construct state-space attractors. Features of the state-space (e.g., the rate of divergence of nearby trajectories) can be useful tools for examining locomotor and postural control by identifying phase-dependent dual-task costs in people with Parkinson's disease or persistent locomotor abnormalities in people with a previous concussion.
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Our Team
Peter Fino, PhD
Lab Director
Regan Crofts, MS
Research Coordinator
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Bre Dumke
PhD Student
Nooshin Seddighi
PhD Student
Francisca Moreira
Undergraduate RA
Corinne Mayfield
Undergraduate RA
Cecilia Monoli, PhD
Postdoc
Tessa Petersell, BS
Research Coordinator
David Quammen
PhD Student
Paula Kramer
MS Student
Zach Barker
Undergraduate RA
Christina Geisler, MS
Research Coordinator
Jun Son, MS
Research Assistant
Selena Cho
PhD Student
Naira Araujo
MS Student
Brody Roemmich
Undergraduate RA
Lab Alumni
Postdoc Alumni
Amanda Morris, PhD - Assistant Professor, Sacramento State
Paula Johnson, PhD - Director of Research, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Tiphanie Raffegeau, PhD - Assistant Professor, George Mason University
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PhD Alumni
Nick Kreter, PhD - Postdoc, University of Oregon
Breanna Dumke Helfrich, PhD - Owner, Movement Design Lab
Mindie Clark, PhD - Assistant Professor, Rocky Mountain College
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MS Alumni
Jun Son - Research Coordinator, University of Utah
Regan Crofts - Research Coordinator, University of Utah
Nick Woo - PhD Student, University of Utah
Alise Borse - Nurse Practioner and Instructor, Vanderbilt University
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Research Staff Alumni
Carter Lybbert - PhD Student, University of Utah
Ben Cassidy - Medical Student, Virginia Commonwealth University
Tyler Ho - Research Coordinator, Center for Limb Loss and Mobility, VAPSHCS
Sarah Hill - Wildland Fire Dispatch Coordinator
Undergraduate Alumni
Jasmine Arreguin
Cameron Jensen
Shu Yang
Vincent Veibell
Claire Rogers
Elle Gaudette
Josh Wood
Tyler Ho
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Our Collaborators
Cognitive and Motor Neuroscience Research Theme | Health and Kinesiology
Genevieve Albouy | Sleep Motor Memory Lab
Brad King | Lifespan Motor Neuroscience Lab
Kota Takahashi | Sayu Lab for Biomechanics and Locomotion
University of Utah
Lee Dibble | Physical Therapy & Athletic Training
Daniel Cushman | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Lisa Wilde | Neurology
Melissa Cortez | Neurology
Colby Hansen | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Sarah Creem-Regehr| Psychology
Jeanine Stefanucci | Psychology
Bo Foreman | Physical Therapy & Athletic Training
External Collaborators
Douglas Martini | UMass - Amherst
Laurie King | Oregon Health & Science University
Martina Mancini | Oregon Health & Science University
Fay Horak | Oregon Health & Science University
Carolin Curtze | University of Nebraska Omaha
Mark Lester | US Army-Baylor Physical Therapy
Maggie Weightman | Courage Kenny Research Center
Daniel Peterson | Arizona State University
Liza Zukowski | High Point University
Our Pets
Kevin & Olive
Dieter
Cormac
Obi
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Cal
Boomer
Outreach
We have been a proud parrticipant in National Biomechanics Day (NBD) since 2019. National Biomechanics Day is a worldwide celebration of biomechanics, the breakthrough science of the 21st century! Learn more about this initiative here.
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In addition to our annual participation in National Biomechanics Day, we have partnered with the Promoting Access throughout High School Program (PATHS). Together, we host in-person and virtual events to showcase our research and introduce high school students to the field of biomechanics, neuroscience, and motor control.