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

步态(行走或跑步)是人体生理机能的基本组成部分。然而，步态模式并不是随着时间的推移而稳定的，随着时间的推移，肌肉、骨骼或感官的结构和功能可能会发生变化。重要的是，我们的步态模式的自愿改变-称为步态修改-可能是必要的，以回应或提前这些结构和功能变化，以努力优化整体身体功能。我们的研究小组已经成为步态修改研究的领先者。我们最近的研究表明，改变一个人步态模式的特定方面可以在其他地方产生可预见的影响。例如，当脚接触地面时，修改脚的放置方式可以改变膝盖或臀部的情况。我们还进行了一项研究，表明如果特定肌肉的激活数量或时间发生变化会发生什么。近年来，人们对步态改变效果的认识有了很大的进步，但大多数步态改变的研究和实践都局限在实验室环境中。因此，这些变化如何转化为现实世界的日常活动尚不清楚。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在运动跟踪方面的最新进展；其中包括我们定制的鞋子系统，该系统可以在现实世界中监控脚部运动，并提供运动再培训所需的实时感官提示。我们的总体工作框架是，一个人如何在实验室环境中立即执行修改后的步态模式与在“真实世界”中的表现不同，并且会随着时间的推移而改变。因此，我们对日常生活中运动修改是如何传递和执行的并没有一个完整的了解。我们的目标是通过结合动作分析和训练方面的研究，以及创新的可穿戴技术来探索这一点。近年来，人们对自己的运动和移动性的兴趣飙升，这在很大程度上是由跟踪多种人类功能的可穿戴技术产品的繁荣推动的。虽然这些产品能够测量运动的某些方面，但如果需要，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。我们提出的研究将为研究人员、临床医生和教练、产业界和普通公众提供新的方法和知识来解决这一问题，从而使人们最终能够控制自己的运动表现并改变关键特征以改善功能。

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.