Tools of My Trade
Advances in technology have “The classic struggle in our transformed the classroom field has been whether to of Brandi Row Lazzarini ’96, work in an artificial labassociate professor of based environment or in a exercise science. When Row place where people can move Lazzarini’s students explore more naturally,” says Row biomechanics — the study of Lazzarini. “This system mechanical principles opens up opportunities for applied to the structure and students to go out into the function of the human body field and do research during — they now use cutting-edge real-life activities. Students wireless systems that capture are really excited about it.” the body’s natural movements in ways never before possible. These are the high-tech tools that Row Lazzarini’s “In the old days, research students use: subjects were tethered to a 1. Sensors computer by cables,” says The Integrated Exercise Science Row Lazzarini. “Now, with Laboratory owns four lightweight wireless devices, they can sensors that can be used on legs move more naturally and and arms. To capture the action therefore provide better of her leg flexing and extending, results for research.” Row Lazzarini wears four sensor devices — one attached to the back of her pelvis, two positioned The Myometrics motion on Velcro bands above and below capture system from Noraxon her knee and one on her foot. USA, Inc. uses wi-fi to transmit to receivers and a 2. Receiver laptop the information from A small black box topped by a sensors worn on a person’s wireless antenna, the receiver collects the data from the sensors body. Researchers and students can see the complex and feeds it to a laptop. interaction of bones and joints that lies behind even the simplest movement. Motion capture technology helps animate digital characters in videos and movies, but it’s also used to analyze and improve athletes’ performances, identify and treat patients’ injuries or posture and movement problems, and train healthcare professionals. As the Myometrics system is portable, students can conduct research beyond the Integrated Exercise Science Laboratory on the first floor of Gatke Hall.
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FALL 2016
3. Software The Myomotion biomechanical analysis software recreates Row Lazzarini’s movements in a three-dimensional, real-time visualization. As Row Lazzarini walks around, lifts a leg or squats, a virtual skeleton displayed on the screen duplicates the actions. The software provides precise data such as joint angles, which can then be exported to Excel. “As they saw the animation while the information was being collected, students have a better appreciation for what the data mean,” says Row Lazzarini.
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