Equipment

The Granata Lab has an AMTI split-belt fore-aft instrumented treadmill (Watertown, MA), which is equipped with front and back AMTI force plates and corresponding belts. The treadmill can be used to monitor ground reaction forces in the anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, and vertical directions and corresponding free moments about each axis. Additionally, the treadmill incline and belt speed for both the front and back force plate belts can be adjusted. The force and moment data obtained from these force plates can be used to understand both ground reaction forces as well as joint moments, in conjunction with kinematics data, during walking or running.

The equipment used in the Granata Lab for monitoring three-dimensional kinematics are state of the art motion capture systems (Qualysis INC, Gothenburg, Sweden).  One system is comprised of ten digital cameras (OQUS 7) that can sample between 3 and 12 megapixels at variable frame rates between 300 and 1100 frames per second at full resolution. Another similar system is comprised of eight digital cameras (MIQUS M1). These cameras are connected to one another and connected through Ethernet cables to the main data collection computers which are further linked to the Qualisys online web service.  The OQUS 7 and MIQUS M1 cameras are used in conjunction with the QTM software (Qualisys, Gothenbjurg, Sweden), which allows data to be collected in real-time.  The real-time collection and display of 3D data allows the lab staff the ability to complete biofeedback projects and provide immediate information to the subjects and patients that are being assessed in the lab.  In addition to the QTM software, which is used for data collection and reduction, the Granata Lab uses Visual 3D (C-Motion, Germantown, MD) software for the processing and reduction of all motion analysis data.  Finally the lab utilizes custom written Matlab software to complete any additional data processing.

The Granata Lab has four AMTI (Watertown, MA) force plates, which are mounted in the floor along a 20 meter walkway.  These four force plates are mounted on a rail system allowing for them to be moved around in various configurations to optimize data collected based on the specific research study.  The force plates can be used to monitor ground reaction forces in the anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, and vertical directions.  In addition, these force plates will calculate the free moment about each one of the previously mentioned axes.  The force and moment data obtained from these force plates can be used to understand both ground reaction forces as well as joint moments, in conjunction with kinematics data, during a wide variety of activities.  In addition to the four imbedded force plates the lab also has 2 portable force plates (bi-axial).  These portable plates are used for the collection of biomechanical data in various settings  as well as being used for demonstrations at off-site facilities.

The Granata Lab currently has a pedar-X in shoe pressure measurement system (St. Paul, MN).  The pedar-X system is used to monitor the pressure beneath the foot while the subject is wearing shoes.  As part of this system the Granata Lab currently has 7 pairs of insoles ranging from a women’s size 7 through a men’s size 13.   Each insole contains 99 sensors that are can be used to monitor the pressure, force, contact area, contact time, force-time integral, and the timing of the peak pressure.  Once the data has been collected the foot can be divided into various regions in order to examine how specific sections of the foot are being loaded during different activities. The pedar-X system can be used to answer questions related for orthotic design and fabrication as well as specific questions about shoe wear.  The system can be used in isolation or can be time synchronized with the force plates and motion capture system for combined data collection capabilities.

The Granata Lab currently has 10 loadsol insoles for the collection of in-shoe pressure data (St. Paul, MN).  The loadsol system is used to monitor the pressure beneath the foot while the subject is wearing shoes similar to the pedar-X system.  Each insole in the loadsol system is a single sensor and is able to be collected through an iDevice (iPod, iPad, iPhone) to allow for collection of data in various settings outside of the lab.  These insoles provide the force time curve for both the left and right foot.  From this information custom matlab codes are used to determine the peak pressure, loading rate, and impulse during a variety of activities in various settings.  The loadsol insoles allow for real-time data collection as well as biofeedback to the subjects during a variety of activities from climbing stairs to running and jumping.

The Granata Lab has a telemetry based EMG system (Delysis, Natick, MA).  This telemetered system allow for the collection of EMG data without having the subject connected directly to the computer during testing.  The EMG system contains 4 channels, each has an individual transmitter that is a 1 inch square block.  This system allows for much easier data collection during all tasks, but specifically during more dynamic tasks such as running, cutting and jumping.  The EMG system can be used in isolation or can be integrated and time synchronized with the motion capture, force plate, and pedar-X systems depending on the research question.

The Granata Lab has a variety of performance and functional testing equipment such as Y-Balance kits, Functional Movement Screen kits, a timing system, plyoboxes, and a jump height indicator to name a few.  These pieces of equipment can be used individually or as part of larger research projects based on the research questions.