Lab Tour
Welcome to the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory
The Sports Medicine Research Laboratory (SMRL) in the Department of Exercise Science, Sport, Physical Education and Recreation at Old Dominion University, opened its doors in July of 2003 and joined efforts with the Department of Physical Therapy for collaborative research in August of 2003.
Along with the Department of Exercise, Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, the SMRL moved over the summer of 2006 to a new building on campus.This allows for the construction of a state-of-the-art Health and Physical Education building that will house the new SMRL.The move to Spong Hall has provided the Sports Medicine Research Lab staff with two main rooms; one for research and one for instruction and doctoral student offices.The new lab space also provides faculty with two offices for research and a large storage closet for lab equipment and accessories.
The research room provides the lab staff with enough room for a 3-D motion analysis area which includes a runway, two Bertec Forceplates, and the Motion Monitor system.Also included in the research room is the Smart Balance Master (Neurocom) and the Baltimore Technologies (BTE) Primus RS.
Research Room and Equipment
3-D Motion Analysis
The SMRL uses the MotionMonitor and Flock of Birds technology to analyze lower extremity movement patterns.The MotionMonitor is a real-time 3D motion capture system designed for use in medical research; physical therapy clinics; sports medicine labs; motor control, balance, neurological, and gait studies; golf, tennis and baseball instruction: and, other situations where precise measurements of the body and its movement through time are required
The MotionMonitor provides our researchers a complete data acquisition system supporting Ascension magnetic trackers, Optotrak by NDI, Polhemus Fastrak and Liberty, force plates, EMG, video and event markers with a simple, flexible and intuitive setup process and extensive data reporting options including standard kinematic data and joint moments and forces.
http://www.innsport.com/Research.htm
The MotionMonitor collects data via Acension Technologies' Flock of Birds electromagnetic motion tracking system.
http://www.ascension-tech.com/products/flockofbirds.php
Research subjects are set-up for lower extremity for data collection using the motion monitor equipment.
Force Plates
The SMRL uses the 4060-NC force plate from Bertec.They are a non-conductive force plate made from a resin impregnated wood. This model is specifically designed to be used in environments requiring measurement of magnetic fields.The SMRL is equipped with two force plates positioned side by side in the electromagnetic field created by the MotionMonitor and flock of bird technology.This allows for collection of kinematic data simultaneous with force data.
Surface Electromyography (SEMG)
The SMRL is also equipped with a 16 channel Bagnoli EMG System from Delsys Inc.Kathy Thomas, a doctoral student, plans on researching with the EMG system using adolescents and tennis forehand strokes.The EMG system is also used in Analysis of Human Motion, a first year graduate level course for students in the graduate athletic training education program.
http://www.delsys.com/Products/Bagnoli_Desktop.html
BTE Technologies PrimusRS
The BTE PrimusRS is a very versatile and functional testing and rehabilitation system.The PrimusRS can be used as a cable system, lift system, upper and lower extremity system, and work simulator system.The PrimusRS offers four different resistance modes including isotonic, isometric, isokinetic, and passive (CPM) and measures speeds up to 4500 degrees per second.Currently, a second-year graduate student is using the PrimusRS to compare hand-held dynamometer readings to the PrimusRS readings.
http://www.btetech.com/primusrs.htm
Pedar Pressure System
The pedar system is an accurate and reliable pressure distribution measuring system for monitoring local loads between the foot and the shoe. The pedar-X offers versatility with its multiple standard features and operating modes. The pedar-X can be tethered to a PC via a fiber optic USB cable. It can function in a mobile capacity with its built-in BluetoothTM technology that is able to communicate with BluetoothTM compatible pocket, notebook, or standard PC's. Also, the pedar-X has a built-in flash memory storage allowing data to be collected anywhere and later downloaded to the computer.In the spring semester 2006 the SMRL developed a backpack to hold the Pedar computer and battery.This made the Pedar system more mobile and comfortable for the research subject.
Currently, the Pedar system is being used by a second year graduate student to study different foot orthoses and the effect they have on foot pressures.
http://www.novel.de/productinfo/systems-pedar.htm
SMART Balance Master - NeuroCom
The SMART Balance Master® provides objective assessment and retraining of the sensory and voluntary motor control of balance with visual biofeedback on either a stable or unstable support surface and in a stable or dynamic visual environment.
The System utilizes a dynamic 18" x 18" dual forceplate with rotation capabilities to measure the vertical forces exerted by the patient's feet; and a moveable visual surround.
The interactive technology and clinically proven protocols allow the clinician to objectively and systematically assess sensory and voluntary motor components of balance control. The objective data helps the clinician accurately identify underlying impairments for more effective treatment planning.
http://www.onbalance.com/neurocom/products/SMARTBalanceMaster.aspx
Education and Office Area
The education and office area provides space for classroom instruction for courses such as Analysis of Human Motion, Research Methods, and Advanced Kenisiology and Biomechanics.This space also provides individual office areas for doctoral students enrolled in the human movement science program.Graduate students are encouraged to use this space for work on their master's theses and research projects.
Each doctoral student has their own desk space for research as well as for preparation for classes they instruct and classes they are enrolled in.
For research purposes, one workstation is reserved for internet access and printing.This workstation is available for doctoral and graduate students and can be accessed with a university account.
Dr. Bonnie Van Lunen uses this office for all of her research purposes.She is the advisor for many graduate and doctoral students.