Projects

Movement: Technologies

Development of digital endpoints for knee osteoarthritis

Given that the patient experience with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily characterized by concurrent pain and walking limitations, this project aims to develop a novel composite digital endpoint tailored to integrate synchronous digital measures of pain and gait patterns in daily life. This endpoint has the potential to be more clinically meaningful, responsive, and ecologically valid than currently available measures. The project will employ a patient-centered approach within the Verification, Analytical Validation, Usability Validation, and Clinical Validation (V3+) framework. 

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Deep learning to estimate knee kinematics and kinetics from inertial sensors

We are using deep learning algorithms to derive accurate estimates of knee kinematics and kinetics from inertial sensors for applications to walking in real-world.

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Validation of markerless motion capture techniques

Leveraging the advances in AI-based markerless techniques for motion capture, we are conducting validation studies to estimate the agreement of these techniques for marker-based approaches.

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Movement: Interventions

Music-based autonomous walking intervention for knee OA

People with knee OA experience impairments in both quality and quantity of walking. In this study, we are developing a novel wearable autonomous music-based rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) intervention to improve both quality and quantity of walking for people with knee OA.

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Telehealth Exercise and Mindfulness for Pain in knee osteoarthritis (TEMPO)

This project is to determine the feasibility of a novel telehealth mindful exercise intervention for people with knee OA. Mindful exercise refers to application of mindfulness to structured exercise and daily physical activity. In this fully decentralized randomized controlled trial (RCT), participants with knee OA (n=62) are assigned to a 10-week, group- based, telehealth – mindful exercise or only exercise arms. 

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Positive Minds Strong Joints for knee OA (PMSJ-OA)

This project is to determine the feasibility of a mental and physical health intervention for Black adults with knee OA who also experience depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. The Positive Minds Strong Joints (PMSJ) telehealth intervention includes individual mental health sessions and group exercise sessions over 10 weeks. This study will inform further modifications to PMSJ-OA guided by feedback from participants and interventionists, as well as strategies for sustainability and scalability.

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Movement: Mechanisms

Exercise-induced hypoalgesia in knee OA

The objective of this project is to examine the neurobiological mechanisms related to and impact of impaired exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). This project is leveraging the current cycle of the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study to comprehensively examine the degree of impaired EIH in a cohort of adults with or at risk of knee OA, the inter-relations between nervous system dysfunction and impaired EIH, and their impacts on key physical and psychological outcomes. 

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Brain function underlying pain and altered movement in knee OA

Using concurrently assessed brain function (using functional near-infrared spectroscopy) and movement patterns (using wearable sensors), we are investigating the brain substrates underlying the influence of pain on neuromotor control during daily activities in people with knee OA.

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