Essential part of HUMEA lab is motion capture system (Vicon Vero 1.3 and 2.2 cameras) and three force plates. Ten motion capture cameras are available  and three force platforms (AMTI OR6-7) are embedded into floor. Force platform setup is modifiable, enabling measurement of ground reaction forces in various movements. Alternatively, force measurement bench can be mounted on a force plate. 

Instrumented treadmill (Motek M-Gait) is installed into the capture volume of Vicon motion capture system.  The treadmill enables integration of motion analysis with physiological measurements during running and walking, such as ergo-spirometry and ECG.

In-house built force-measuring bench for knee extension/flexion and ankle plantarflexion force is also integrated into the motion capture system.

Surface electromyography (EMG) can be combined to motion analysis. The newest equiment for recording EMG is  Delsys Trigno. Laboratory has an over 16-channel Trigno system, which is integrated with motion capture system. Delsys Trigno is wireless and features dry electrodes integrated in one box. Thus only one box, size of a match box is enough to measure activity of a muscle. The sensors also include IMU for orientation measurement. Software development for simultaneous EMG and orientation measurement and realtime integration to OpenSim software is done.

Alternatively a 16-channel data logger ME6000 (Bittium, Kuopio, Finland) can be used to collect EMG. Furthemore,  wireless Faros devices (Bittium) are available for EMG measurements in field. In addition, accelerometers, inclinometers and goniometers can be used wirelessly.

Two ultrasound devices: Telemed EchoBlaster 128 CEXT with sensor LV7.5/60/128-Z-2  and  Telemed LS128 with sensor HL9.0/60/128Z belong to the equipment. Data collection of the device is synchronized with the motion capture system, enabling in vivo dynamics of muscles and tendons to be analyzed.

Whole body wearable motion capture system (Xsens Awinda) enables motion capture in field for ergonomics and sports applications. System consists of 18 inertial measurement units (IMUs). The wearable system has been used to study ergonomics in cleaning work and in healthcare work. The system has been used for ski jump motion analysis with Finnish ski jumping team. Measurements have been carried out in ski jumping hills in Kuopio. In addition, motion capture of cross-country skiing on track has been piloted. Biomehanical animations based on measured data on snow are found on: this link

Take-off technique of elite ski jumpers is examined in laboratory using motion capture system and force plates. In addition musculoskeletal modeling and simulation is used to get deeper understanding on takeoff technique. Co-operation with  Finnish Olympic Committee Kuopio Sport academy, Mika Kojonkoski’s “Team China” and with Puijon Hiihtoseura ski club has been done. https://www3.uef.fi/-/nuoret-kiinalaiset-makihyppaajat-hioivat-taitojaan-liikelabrassa

For biathlon shooting, balance (center of pressure) and aiming point was simultaneously measured in a pilot, a tweet here.

Analysis of force-velocity-power properties of athletes has been started in ice hockey and volleyball. In addition, muscle activity of professional ice hockey players has been analysed. One master’s thesis work on ice hockey players’ muscle activity during skating has been published.

In collaboration with Finnish Olympic Committee Kuopio Sport academy (Kuopion alueen urheiluakatemia) several pilots have been done. Optimization of paratriathlete Liisa Lilja’s prosthesis length by using instrumented treadmill and breath gas analyzer has been one successful pilot, tweets about the pilot here.

Motion capture and biomechanics of dance has also been piloted. Digital dance piece “Annual Rings” (link) was created based on captured motion of five dancers at Kuopio Dance Festival 2019. In addition, utilization of dance in neurological reahabilitation has been studied . Motion capture enables 3D visualization of dance motion, https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10825255.