An instrumented treadmill for musculoskeletal gait analysis and reduced-sedentarity activities

所需设备-在步态分析中，参与者通常在中间装有测力板的走道上行走。由于受试者必须仅用一只脚完全踩在每个力板上，因此需要多次试验，导致疾病患者疲劳。为了避免这个繁琐的过程中，一个双带跑步机仪表与6D力传感器的要求。它将在几个循环中分别测量左脚和右脚下的3D力和力矩。 研究计划-完全仪器化的跑步机将是一个核心部分，在7个工程研究项目，涉及已经12个研究生。NSERC项目包括2个合作研发赠款（CRD）和3个发现项目。 1)肌肉骨骼步态分析- Begon和Raison为上肢肌肉骨骼[MSK]障碍患者开发了有前途的肌肉骨骼[MSK]模型（μForce和Muscleware）。他们的3年目标是开发一种用于实时肌肉骨骼步态分析的混合精确算法。立即，仪表化跑步机与EMG和运动分析系统相结合，以具有两种算法及其可变性的所有输入数据。 2)下肢矫形器设计- Begon和Allard与Médicus和Caboma合作，旨在设计3D打印足部矫形器，根据患者足部几何形状以及步态生物力学进行个性化设计。虽然有限元方法将指导设计，密集的步态分析是必不可少的，以考虑受试者之间的差异。这包括步行和跑步在控制速度和倾斜的仪器跑步机上结合肌电图和动作捕捉。 3)用于控制跑步机速度的生物力学/基于生产力的算法--Begon和Ballaz正在开发两款“跑步者”认真活跃的游戏，在游戏中，儿童的运动--在强度和技术质量方面--驱动一个化身。这些项目的一部分是扩大使用仪器跑步机的机会，其速度是根据实时步态分析控制。 迫切需要-立即将μForce算法转移到步态分析中至关重要，其社会影响远远超出上肢。跑步机不仅是追求卓越的探索计划所必需的，而且还将加速与加拿大公司的3个项目。不幸的是，很少有仪器化的球磨机安装在附近，这些实验室没有工具来个性化模型。 HQP培训-跑步机将由NSERC资助的5名研究人员组成的小组使用，其中包括18名博士，9名硕士和3名博士后学生，以及每年25名理学士学员。他们定期合作并共享基础设施，以最大限度地利用HQP培训和科学影响。每月组织关于研究工具的培训。这样的学生在测量和建模方面的技能和专业知识是罕见的，但在生物医学公司的要求。

REQUESTED EQUIPMENT - In gait analysis, participants usually walk on a walkway with force plates in its middle. Since it is necessary that the subject steps entirely on each force plate with only one foot, several trials are required, leading to fatigue in patients with disorders. To avoid this cumbersome process, a dual-belt treadmill instrumented with 6D force sensors is requested. It will provide, for several cycles, the measure of 3D forces and moments independently under the left and right feet. RESEARCH PROGRAMS - The fully instrumented treadmill will be a central piece in 7 engineering research projects involving already 12 graduate students. The NSERC projects include 2 Collaborative R&D grants [CRD] and 3 Discovery programs. 1) Musculoskeletal gait analysis - Begon and Raison have developed promising musculoskeletal [MSK] models (μForce and Muscleware) for patients with upper-limb MSK disorders. Their 3-year objective is to develop an hybrid accurate algorithm for real-time musculoskeletal gait analysis. Immediately, the instrumented treadmill in combination with EMG and motion analysis systems to have all the input data of both algorithms and their variability. 2) Lower-limb orthotics design - Begon and Allard in cooperation with Médicus and Caboma aim at designing a 3D printed foot orthotics, personalised to the patient foot geometry but also his/her gait biomechanics. While finite element method will guide the design, intensive gait analysis is essential to account for inter-subject variability. This includes walking and running at controlled speed and incline on the instrumented treadmill in combination with EMG and motion capture. 3) Biomechanics/productivity-based algorithms for controlling treadmill speed - Together Begon and Ballaz are developing two “runner” serious-active games where child movements - in terms of intensity and technical quality - drive an avatar. Part of these projects is to extend opportunities using instrumented treadmill where its speed is controlled according to real-time gait analysis. URGENT NEED - Immediately, it is crucial to transfer the μForce algorithm to gait analysis, its social impact going well beyond that of upper limb. The treadmill is not only necessary to pursue Discovery programs toward excellence, but will also hasten 3 projects with Canadian companies. Unfortunately, very few instrumented treadmills are installed close and these labs do not have tools to personalise models. HQP TRAINING - The treadmill will be used by a NSERC funded group of 5 researchers with 18 PhD, 9 MSc and 3 post-doctoral students, and 25 BSc trainees each year. They collaborate on a regular basis and share infrastructure to maximise its use, HQP training and scientific impact. Monthly trainings are organized on the research tools. Such students with skills and know-how in both measurement and modeling are rare but requested in biomedical companies.