The Biomechanics and Motor Behavior Laboatory
The Biomechanics Laboratory and the Motor Behavior Laboratory are housed together on the ground floor of the Kinesiology Tower. Human movement can be studied in over 5000 square feet of open floor space plus six separate experiment and analysis rooms. Within this setting, motor learning and control influences in movement can be merged with biomechanical data. The "tour" below will focus on the areas and instrumentation available.
As you enter the lab, on your left is an area for group meetings and lectures and on your right, a large area with tables and equipment that can be arranged specifically for any given lab problem solving session or experiment.
Shown here, for example, the lab for determining the body's center of gravity and a typical lab discussion group.
Timing devices and switches can be configured to measure distances and speeds of large as well small as human movements.
Various computers are used to record EMG and other analog data as well as access computer courseware used to aid in understanding anatomical and biomechanical concepts.
Along the center wall is a Kistler force platform installed level with the floor with dedicated computer hardware and software for measuring ground reaction forces. Over the force platform is a three-dimensional spatial calibration frame used in computerized video analysis of any movement wishing to be studied.
Movement can be videotaped with up to three shuttered videocameras, all synchronized in time, with a time code recorded on each frame at 60 frames per second. Force plate data and data from videotapes of the movement being studied can be synchronized to give a more complete picture of the performance.
In the video motion analysis room, each tape is then analyzed by manually digitizing points on the body with a cursor or automatically by using reflective markers. The data are stored in a computer and analyzed with a Peak Performance, Inc. motion analysis system and software.
If a performance were filmed instead of videotaped, data could be acquired at up to 250 frames per second with two high speed super-8 cameras. In the film analysis room, the film can be projected frame by frame on a large rear projection screen and digitized in a similar manner as video.