Baby Biomechanics
Improving safety and progressing innovation
Friday, November 22, 2019
About the Presentation
Biomechanics is a relatively new field, morphing over the past 50 years into what is today. Researchers in biomechanics use experimental techniques in combination with computational modeling to explore questions related to human movement: How do orthopaedic pathologies and interventions impact patient function? What is the most ergonomic office setup to reduce the incidence of chronic back pain? While the field of biomechanics is rapidly expanding and being used to answer more questions related to human movement, one area that has been vastly understudied is infant biomechanics. As a society, we owe it to the smallest members of our species to ask and answer questions to progress their health and safety: How does baby gear impact movement or safety? How do orthopaedic interventions affect hip development? Can we improve treatment for babies with hip dysplasia?
In the first few months after birth, the human musculoskeletal system is developing at a speed unmatched compared to the rest of life. We know the rapid pace of musculoskeletal development is impacted by movement and muscle activity, yet little research has explored these ideas in the human infant. One goal of our lab with the support of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute is to understand the impact of commercial baby gear, orthopaedic interventions, and movement on infant hip development. Biomechanics can also help answer questions to improve the safety of every infant. Our research on infant inclined sleep products was recently featured in the national media on the CBS Evening News, The Washington Post, and Consumer Reports. In an exclusive contract with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, our team performed novel biomechanical testing on infants in inclined sleep products, determining the product design contributed to the deaths of infants in the products. The research led the Commission to recommend the elimination of the product class to ensure infant safety.
In this seminar, we will explore how biomechanics can help us answer questions about baby product design and infant musculoskeletal development. Infant safety and innovation in pediatric orthopaedics depend on novel research, and our lab is positioned to lead the charge in exploring baby biomechanics.
About the Presenter
Dr. Erin M. Mannen is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Translational Orthopaedic Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Her research focus is biomechanics, with particular interest in infant musculoskeletal development and safety of commercial baby gear. Dr. Mannen earned her B.S (2009) and Ph.D. (2014) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kansas where she was named the Outstanding Graduating Senior in the School of Engineering. Dr. Mannen completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Center for Orthopaedic Biomechanics at the University of Denver (2017) before joining the faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has recently been named a UAMS Phenomenal Woman for promoting Women in STEM in the university and in the greater Little Rock community.