Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) affect over 1.71 billion of individuals globally and are the leading cause linked to disability. Tendons and ligaments are some of the most injury prone tissues in the locomotor system. These injuries pose a high risk of developing chronic conditions such as back pain, osteoarthritis, and arthropathies. Furthermore, diagnosing and treating tendon and ligament injuries is difficult and expensive, making the prevention of chronic injuries challenging. There is a need for patient-specific MSDs rehabilitation therapies, as loading and strain vary across the population, therefore certain rehabilitation modalities may be therapeutic for some individuals yet detrimental for others. To address these challenges, we propose the development of a personalized rehabilitation system. Effective motion for therapeutic benefits requires the collaborative contribution of different components of the locomotor system, and a weakness to one or more components places deleterious stress on the other potentially leading to further tissue degeneration. We are exploring those factors that make rehabilitation therapeutic instead of detrimental in order to optimize physical therapy approaches.
Experimental & Engineering Methods
- EMG Sensors
- Motion Capture
- Sensor and embedded system design
- Human-subjects testing
- Silicone casting & soft material fabrication
Ongoing Projects
- To establish the relationship between muscle activation and different Musculoskeletal Disorders using EMG sensors and Motion Capture.
- To develop new sensing platforms to optimize physical rehabilitation.
Graduate Students
Isabela Castillo