{"id":1032,"date":"2018-05-01T09:31:38","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T13:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/?page_id=1032"},"modified":"2025-04-25T19:24:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T23:24:17","slug":"our-tools","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/our-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Our state-of-the-art motion analysis laboratory is located in Boston University&#8217;s athletic center (100 Ashford Street, 02215). Housed in the laboratory are six recessed force plates, an instrumented split-belt treadmill, an 18-camera optical motion tracking system, a 21-sensor inertial tracking system, a 24-sensor electromyography sensor system, a visual biofeedback projector and screen, and a fall prevention harness system.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0182.jpg\" alt=\"RenovatedSpaces_0182\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-841\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0182.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0182-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0182-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0182-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0181.jpg\" alt=\"RenovatedSpaces_0181\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-840\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0181.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0181-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0181-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0181-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A private treatment room with a non-instrumented treadmill, fall prevention harness, treatment table, and visual biofeedback station is located adjacent to the main motion capture space. Housed in this space is a portable metabolic measurement system and a 12-lead ECG unit.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0166.jpg\" alt=\"RenovatedSpaces_0166\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-836\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0166.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0166-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0166-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0166-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Two student and research staff offices provide workspace for up to 10 laboratory members (and an espresso machine).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0175.jpg\" alt=\"RenovatedSpaces_0175\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-838\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0175.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0175-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0175-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0175-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0195.jpg\" alt=\"RenovatedSpaces_0195\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-839\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0195.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0195-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0195-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/RenovatedSpaces_0195-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A brand-new student and research staff office was officially opened at the beginning of 2025 at 300 Babcock St, 02215. The space features a private office, a plenary meeting area, a workspace for up to 10 laboratory members, a Zoom office pod, and a kitchen.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG118-636x477.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"301\" class=\" wp-image-2643 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG118-636x477.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG118-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG118-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG118-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG118-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2025\/04\/2231745623301_.pic_-636x477.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"405\" height=\"304\" class=\" wp-image-2752 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/04\/2231745623301_.pic_-636x477.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/04\/2231745623301_.pic_-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/04\/2231745623301_.pic_-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/04\/2231745623301_.pic_-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/04\/2231745623301_.pic_.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #993300;\">Our Laboratory Equipment<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span>Electromyography (<\/span>EMG)<\/strong><br \/>\nOur <a href=\"https:\/\/delsys.com\/trigno\/research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Delsys Trigno Avanti EMG system<\/a> includes 16 Avanti, 4 Quattro, and 6 Mini Sensors and aids in the analysis of muscle activity and muscle synergies.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_EMG_1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1967 aligncenter\" \/><strong>Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)<\/strong><br \/>\nOur full-body IMU system (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.xsens.com\/products\/mvn-analyze?utm_term=xsens%20mvn%20analyze&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_campaign=HMM+%7C+North+Amer+%7C+Search&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;hsa_cam=15267581509&amp;hsa_src=g&amp;hsa_mt=e&amp;hsa_ver=3&amp;hsa_net=adwords&amp;hsa_tgt=aud-1068507372166:kwd-928333037508&amp;hsa_acc=1306794700&amp;hsa_grp=129959817499&amp;hsa_kw=xsens%20mvn%20analyze&amp;hsa_ad=561733547447&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwheyUBhD-ARIsAHJNM-PF0rLkXB6iMVYSqUryWAYZEV330_2L1kI9LbofbDjlA5i3HnlNr04aAircEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Xsens MVN Analyze<\/a>) contains 17 wireless sensors (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.xsens.com\/products\/mtw-awinda\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MTw<\/a>) used to track body movements and calculate joint kinematics. Refer to specifics with regards to IMU placement, collection software and number of IMUs used in a study.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_XSENS.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1970 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Motion Capture<\/strong><br \/>\nThe motion capture space in the NRL is equipped with 18 Oqus cameras (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.qualisys.com\/applications\/human-biomechanics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Qualisys<\/a>), 6 overground force plates, and an instrumented split-belt treadmill which enable us to capture biomechanical data, including joint kinematics and kinetics.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_MOCAP.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1980 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Portable Metabolic System<\/strong><br \/>\nOur <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmed.com\/en\/products\/cardio-pulmonary-exercise-test\/k5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">COSMED K5 system<\/a> measures the volume of consumed oxygen and expired carbon dioxide, which can be used to calculate metrics of energy expenditure for various tasks.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_COSMED.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1968 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span>Electrocardiogram (<\/span>ECG)<\/strong><br \/>\nOur 12-lead <a href=\"https:\/\/www.labiopro.com\/en\/products\/medical-and-biomedical-equipment\/cardiac-equipment\/quark-c12x\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quark C12x system<\/a> allows us to monitor cardiovascular response at rest and during dynamic activities at varying intensities.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_QUARKC12.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1973 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)<\/strong><br \/>\nOur fNIRS data collection system uses light to detect hemodynamic changes in the brain related to cognitive load and motor function.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_FNIRS.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"237\" height=\"270\" class=\" wp-image-1972 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Exosuit (Rewalk Restore)<\/strong><br \/>\nA <a href=\"https:\/\/rewalk.com\/restore-exo-suit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cable-driven robotics assistive device<\/a>, cable of providing both plantarflexion (PF) assistance and dorsiflexion (DF) assistance. Readily, we can control the assistance force magnitude and force onset on the PF side and max DF position on the DF side.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_RESTORE.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"401\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1971 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)<\/strong><br \/>\nA custom FES data collection system synthesizes body-worn IMUs (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.xsens.com\/mti-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Xsens MTi<\/a>) and a portable electrical stimulator (<a href=\"https:\/\/hasomed.de\/en\/products\/rehamove\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hasomed RehaMove3<\/a>) to provide gait-specific neuromuscular assistance during walking. The Hasomed RehaMove3 is a 4-channel current-controlled electrical stimulator used for applying functional stimulation and burst-superimposition testing for the FES and central drive projects.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG120-636x550.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"403\" height=\"349\" class=\" wp-image-2645 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG120-636x550.jpg 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG120-1024x885.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG120-768x664.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG120-1536x1328.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/WechatIMG120-2048x1771.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Dynamometer<\/strong><br \/>\nThe <a href=\"https:\/\/hogganscientific.com\/product\/microfet2-muscle-tester-digital-handheld-dynamometer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MicroFet2<\/a> handheld dynamometer is used to measure maximal or submaximal muscular forces.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2022\/06\/NRL_MICROFET.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1979 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h3><span><span style=\"color: #993300;\">Special Thanks and Acknowledgements<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><u><br \/>\n<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Our research is made possible by the generous support of the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, and the Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/nih-logo-color-636x98.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"305\" height=\"47\" class=\" wp-image-2641 aligncenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/nih-logo-color-636x98.png 636w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/nih-logo-color-768x118.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/nih-logo-color.png 780w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 305px) 100vw, 305px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2025\/02\/logo-desktop.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\" wp-image-2639 aligncenter\" width=\"174\" height=\"75\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2017\/05\/AHA-e1496000232364.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"131\" height=\"85\" class=\" wp-image-739 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/nrl\/files\/2016\/09\/CTSO.png\" alt=\"CTSO\" class=\"wp-image-842 aligncenter\" width=\"384\" height=\"41\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our state-of-the-art motion analysis laboratory is located in Boston University&#8217;s athletic center (100 Ashford Street, 02215). Housed in the laboratory are six recessed force plates, an instrumented split-belt treadmill, an 18-camera optical motion tracking system, a 21-sensor inertial tracking system, a 24-sensor electromyography sensor system, a visual biofeedback projector and screen, and a fall prevention [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14455,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1032"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14455"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1032"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1032\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2754,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1032\/revisions\/2754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/nrl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}