The Andrew J. Gitter Research Center
The GAIT Lab
(The Gait Analysis and Innovative Technologies Laboratory)
Situated in the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Hospital is a state-of-the-art gait and clinical movement analysis laboratory developed in collaboration with the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio.
This laboratory - currently one of the largest Oxford Metrics Vicon labs in North America - is designed to analyze the dynamics of human movement; from the act of transferring from a seated to a standing position, propelling a wheelchair, running over ground, lifting a weight, or throwing a projectile...the laboratory can analyze it.
A Little Background
Movement analysis is a wide-open field of research with definite clinical applications in rehabilitation, sports medicine and orthopedics. In particular, gait analysis is especially useful in the case of children with cerebral palsy. Through the additional information provided by 3-D gait analysis, orthopedic surgeons can make better decisions regarding corrective surgery in an effort to improve the mobility and gait of many children with cerebral palsy. It has been shown that with the addition of gait anlaysis, the number of surgeries is reduced and the outcome improved by providing the surgeon with a more accurate and detailed report of the biomechanics involved in a child's gait. Many of the Shriners Children's Hospitals across the nation have installed such systems.
Goals
This is a multidisciplinary, multi-faceted movement analysis laboratory. At present, the research projects include:
- surgery and/or drug therapy outcome
- amputee gait
- prosthetic limb and socket design (CAD/CAM)
- 'normal' gait
- pathologic gait clinical cases
As the laboratory matures and becomes more established, we hope to explore the realm of sports medicine, further clinical applications, and future product development.
State-of-the-Art Equipment
Vicon 370 3-D Gait Analysis System
The backbone of such varied analysis capabilities is the Oxford Metrics Vicon 370 3-D Gait Analysis System - incorporating six 60Hz video cameras with infra-red strobes; four moveable AMTI force plates; and Motion Lab 10 channel electromyographic (EMG) recording capability. With this system alone, one can graphically reconstruct an individual's gait in three dimensions - sagittal, frontal, or transverse planes (X, Y & Z axes). Ultimately, the data are presented as patterns of EMG activity, joint angle/position changes, joint moments and powers, and ground reaction forces acting on or through those same joints.
FSCAN Real-time Pressure Analysis
Also available in this laboratory is a system for measuring in-shoe or in-socket pressures (FSCAN - Tekscan Technologies). This system utilizes a thin, flexible mylar sheet that is laced with miniature pressure transducers. As a person moves, the pressure changes across their foot (or prosthetic limb socket) are captured, presented in real-time on a computer screen, and stored for further analysis including levels and locations of pressure, center-of-pressure, dynamic pressure changes, etc.
SKILL Technologies 6D Research Movement Analysis System
The newest system addition is a 3-D, real-time, movement analysis system - 6D-Research, created by Skill Technologies - utilizing electromagnetic field technology (Polhemus Technology). This system captures changes in an electromagnetic field as an individual moves through the field and converts that information into a real-time, skeletal representation of that movement. The resulting data can be analyzed with six degrees of freedom within three dimensions and can ultimately be presented as graphical patterns of joint angular changes. The nature of this system makes it particularly intriguing for use in biofeedback, physical therapy, and occupational therapy studies.
The GAIT Lab Staff
Director:
Nicolas E. Walsh, M.D.
Email: WalshN@uthscsa.edu
Director of Research:
Jim Schroeder, Ph.D.
Email: SchroederJ@uthscsa.edu
Certified Prosthetist:
Gordon Bosker, M.Ed., CPO, LPO, CPed
Email: Bosker@uthscsa.edu
Administrative and Faculty Support:
Sharon Stowe
Email: Stowe@uthscsa.edu
Research Assistant:
Gail Walden (SCIC/ALMMVAH)
Email: Walden@uthscsa.edu
Research Student Assistant:
Roseann Trevino
Email: TrevinoR6@uthscsa.edu