Expanding our ability to assess and modify movement in real-world settings

扩展我们在现实环境中评估和修改运动的能力

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-02484
• 负责人: Hunt, Michael
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=762197
• 关键词: Expanding; our; ability; assess; modify

Gait (walking or running) is a fundamental component of human physical function. However, gait patterns are not stable over time, and can change due to alterations in the structure and function of muscles, bones, or our senses over time. Importantly, voluntary changes to our gait patterns - termed gait modifications - may be necessary in response to, or in advance of, these structural and functional changes in an effort to optimize overall physical function. Our research group has been established as leaders in gait modification research. Our recent research has shown that changing specific aspects of one's gait pattern can have predictable effects elsewhere. For example, modifying how one places their foot when it contacts the ground can change what happens at the knee or hip. We have also conducted research showing what happens if the amount or timing of activation of specific muscles is changed. While the knowledge of the effects of gait modification has advanced greatly in recent years, most gait modification research and practice is confined to laboratory settings. Therefore, how these changes are transferred into real-world, everyday activities is not known. The short-term objectives of the proposed research are to address this very important gap in our knowledge. Our work will capitalize on recent advances in the tracking of movement using wearable technology; this includes our custom-designed shoe system that can monitor foot movements in real-world settings, as well as provide sensory cues required for movement retraining in real-time. Our overall working framework is that how one immediately performs a modified gait pattern in a laboratory setting is not the same as performance in the "real world", and will change over time. Therefore, we do not have a full picture of how movement modification is delivered and performed in everyday life. We aim to probe this through research that combines aspects of movement analysis and training, and innovative wearable technology. People's interest in their own movement and mobility has skyrocketed in recent years, driven largely by the boom in wearable technology products that track multiple human functions. While these products are capable of measuring certain aspects of movement, they are currently unable to easily provide targeted feedback or direct training to change movement, if desired. Our proposed research will provide researchers, clinicians and coaches, industry, and the general public with novel approaches and knowledge to address this, thus permitting people to ultimately take control of their movement performance and modify key characteristics to improve function.

步态（步行或跑步）是人类身体机能的基本组成部分。然而，步态模式随着时间的推移并不稳定，并且可能由于肌肉、骨骼或我们的感官的结构和功能的变化而改变。重要的是，为了优化整体身体功能，为了响应或提前这些结构和功能变化，可能有必要自愿改变我们的步态模式（称为步态修改）。我们的研究小组已成为步态矫正研究领域的领导者。我们最近的研究表明，改变步态模式的特定方面可以在其他方面产生可预测的影响。例如，改变脚接触地面时的放置方式可以改变膝盖或臀部发生的情况。我们还进行了研究，展示如果特定肌肉的激活量或时间发生变化会发生什么。尽管近年来对步态矫正效果的认识有了很大进步，但大多数步态矫正研究和实践仅限于实验室环境。因此，这些变化如何转移到现实世界的日常活动中尚不清楚。拟议研究的短期目标是解决我们知识中的这一非常重要的差距。我们的工作将利用可穿戴技术追踪运动的最新进展；这包括我们定制设计的鞋子系统，该系统可以监测现实环境中的足部运动，并提供实时运动再训练所需的感官提示。我们的总体工作框架是，在实验室环境中立即执行修改后的步态模式的方式与“现实世界”中的表现不同，并且会随着时间的推移而改变。因此，我们无法全面了解日常生活中如何进行和执行运动修改。我们的目标是通过结合运动分析和训练以及创新可穿戴技术的研究来探索这一点。近年来，人们对自己的运动和移动性的兴趣猛增，这主要是由于跟踪多种人类功能的可穿戴技术产品的蓬勃发展所推动的。虽然这些产品能够测量运动的某些方面，但它们目前无法轻松提供有针对性的反馈或直接培训来改变运动（如果需要）。我们提出的研究将为研究人员、临床医生和教练、行业和公众提供解决这个问题的新方法和知识，从而使人们最终能够控制自己的运动表现并修改关键特征以改善功能。