Participant Research Study
The American Society of Biomechanics is continuing the Participant Research Study, which was first successfully piloted at the 2012 ASB annual meeting. As we return to in-person meeting experiences, our annual meetings will again be attended by many experimentalists that appreciate the difficulty of obtaining large test subject sample sizes. Please make time to visit the participant research study and participate if possible.
2023 Participant Research Study
The Participant Research Study was submitted to, and selected by, the program committee for inclusion at the annual meeting. The research group, listed below, will be collecting data during the annual meeting, beginning on Wednesday August 9th until Friday August 11th at the Knoxville Convention Center. All registered ASB delegates are encouraged to visit, learn more, and participate in this important research. Advance registration is not required, simply stop by the second floor space to be considered.
Instrumented assessment of the influence of age on motor function and postural control
Trent M. Guess PhD
Jamie Hall PT, DPT, PhD
Jacob Thomas, BS, MBA
Samantha Weiss
Mizzou Motion Analysis Center, University of Missouri
Assessment of motor function may provide important biomarkers for cognitive decline and fall risk in older adults. However, widespread use of these assessments has not occurred. Factors that limit population-based motor function measurements for early dementia detection and fall risk include: 1) the accessibility of technologies that comprehensively measure motor function, and 2) difficulties in distinguishing sensory and motor function changes resulting from cognitive decline and normal aging.
The Mizzou Point-of-Care Assessment System (MPASS) integrates measurements from a custom forceplate, spatial sensor with body tracking, and a user interface board consisting of pushbuttons, light emitting diodes (LEDs), force sensing resistors, a speaker, and microcontroller. We propose to use this portable and inexpensive platform to collect movement and postural control data across the life span.
During the 2023 meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics we will measure participants performing tasks such as static balance, walking, sit-to-stand, turning, and reaction tests. We will include dual tasking in our assessments and anticipate that each data collection will take 15 – 20 minutes. We hope to collect data on 40 participants. The broader study will provide information on age related motor function changes with the goal of improving specificity of motor function assessment as biomarkers of cognitive decline and fall risk in older adults.