Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab

Wearable sensors are ubiquitous and allow for the quantification of tissue and joint mechanics in real-world environments. We are using wearables in a variety of capacities to understand healthy human movement, changes that occur due to injury, and how wearables can assist with objective assessment of recover and treatment effectiveness.

Animal models provide the benefit of characterizing tissue function and structure during any stage of development, homeostasis, or disease. We are developing a non-invasive, direct assessment of in vivo tissue loading for animal models to provide a more comprehensive understanding of muscle-tendon mechanics.

Volumetric muscle loss is a debilitating condition that leads to chronic functional impairment due to the irrecoverable loss of muscle tissue. Physical therapy, bracing, and autologous muscle grafting are recommended as treatments, but none of these fully restore the lost tissue or function. We are currently investigating targeted tissue-specific electrical stimulation therapy for improving outcomes.

Tendon injuries are common and disabling injuries, accounting for approximately 7% of all physician visits and 30% of musculoskeletal consultations in the United States. Although the immune system supports wound healing, it may also promote scarring which limits tendon functionality. We are currently investigating immunosuppression to prevent excessive tendon scarring in an animal model.