Current Motion Analysis Studies

A common process during aging is the development of osteoarthritis in the knee. This causes severe knee pain and limits a person’s social and recreational abilities. In the United States approximately 480,000 people receive knee replacements each year. Although total knee replacements are a common treatment option for people with severe arthritis, the method in which the device is implanted is not standardized between surgeons.

In our research lab, we have designed a study to determine if daily function after knee replacement is affected by the surgical technique through which the knee is replaced. The goal of our work is to help orthopedic surgeons determine the best methods to use during surgery to return patients to a healthy active lifestyle quickly.

Persons with advanced arthritis about the knee often need knee replacements. Many patients have increased wear on the medial aspect of the knee with limited disease in other areas. These patients may be candidates to receive a partial knee replacement instead of a total knee replacement.

In our research lab, we investigate how people recover following partial knee surgery and compare it to people with total knee replacements. Our objective is to determine if a partial knee can as effectively relieve pain and compare its kinematic performance to a standard total knee replacement. This study will help surgeons in prescribing appropriate treatments to their patients and provide greater options to patients who may only need a partial knee replacement.

In 2007 a hip resurfacing device was approved in the United States for more active patients. This alternative treatment to the tradition hip replacement device has not been investigated to the same degree as hip replacement surgery. Functional outcomes following surgery are needed to determine if patients can return to desired occupational, social, recreational activities.

In our research lab, we are investigating the efficacy of the new hip resurfacing device using activities of daily living such as walking, stair climbing and transferring into and out of a chair. We study recovery time between a standard hip replacement and the new device in active patients, to determine if the resurfacing device may provide any additional benefits. Our goals are to be able to provide surgeons with treatment options for patients who may benefit from receiving a more conservative surgery.

Our state-of-the-art motion analysis lab is unique to the Phoenix valley. For this reason we often receive referrals from physicians who prescribe a gait analysis to help them determine the best treatment options for their patient. Most commonly we see patients with orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson's disease. Our biomechanists, athletic trainer, kinesiologists, and engineers provide a comprehensive analysis of the patient's motion during dynamic or static tasks. This diagnostic information helps treating physicians determine the best course of action for the individual patient. The goal of our lab is to provide a quantitative tool to physicians to help diagnose and treat patients to the best of their ability.

Loss of shoulder motion can greatly impair ones ability to perform everyday activities.  Restoration and maintenance of shoulder range of motion is an important goal of many orthopedic treatments for injuries such as rotator cuff repair, arthroplasty, decompression, capsular release, and physical therapy. 

The shoulder motion required for performing various daily activities have not yet been identified in a technical manner as to allow for experimental and analytical shoulder studies or for guiding therapeutic interventions.  In order to optimize treatments for shoulder disorders, the active ranges of shoulder motion for performing daily activities must be defined for the specific populations, including age, gender and activity level. 

The purpose of the "Activity of Daily Living Study" is to measure the active range-of-motion of the shoulder in healthy people during the performance of various activities commonly used in everyday life, with a secondary objective of evaluating age differences in the motion requirements. This allows our surgeons to set reasonable objectives for shoulder range of motion following surgery based on age and gender of the patient.

The motion analysis system allows for the precise measurement of 3-dimensional biomechanical parameters that define all aspects of the golf swing.  This provides accurate information about how weight is transitioned throughout the swing, how much force is applied to each joint, and how variances in swings affect the motion of the golf club. These parameters can be used to quantify the differences in a persons swing after a change in club, receiving a lesson, or even after sustaining an injury. The lab can provide this to any golfer for a nominal fee. In addition to this, we are also developing various research projects that may allow golfers to participate with fewer overuse injuries. 

Contact The CORE Institute today for more information about orthopedic surgery lab, our mission, patient and visitor information, our research and more.