Support for human movement research
THE understanding of the science behind human movement is set to become greater through Stellenbosch University’s state of the art Neuromechanics unit or the Human Movement Analysis facility.
The new unit unveiled yesterday will be available to a wide range of disciplines to support human movement research in health care, engineering and sport.
Biomedical engineer John Cockcroft manages the facility with fellow engineers Cara Mills and Madelein Dreyer, and said they provide access to equipment and their expertise in measuring information collected.
Cockcroft said their work is to assist in recording and understanding the information, as the equipment allows for simultaneous data collection.
The unit’s high-speed motion capture systems are capable of capturing threedimensional posture and movement of the skeletal system in great detail during physical activity.
It is also possible to interpret three-dimensional ground reaction forces, or pressure patterns on the feet during standing, jumping, walking or running tasks.
“Our job is not just to assist in the collecting of data, but also train how to use and interpret the information collected. Neuromechanics is an interdisciplinary field as the data collected can be used to find new methods, or treatments for the aged, physically afflicted or even sport injuries.”
He said the multidisciplined application of the facility meant engineers could utilise the information in designing anything from furniture, vehicle, shoes and beyond. – Staff Writer