Gait & Motion Analysis Lab | School of Medicine

Division of Physical Therapy

GMAL

Fred Rutan Center for Gait and Motion Analysis Lab

Fred Rutan Center for
Gait and Motion Analysis

The Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory (GMAL lab) is located in The University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences and Services Building (HSSB) on North Campus.

We are the only full-equipped gait analysis laboratory at UNM designed to facilitate research activities in rehabilitation sciences, especially physical therapy related science and biomechanics.

Since opening in 2012, the 1,038-square foot facility is the only full-equipped motion analysis laboratory in New Mexico.

This facility serves to promote multi-disciplinary scholarly activities at the UNM Health Sciences in order to provide high-quality healthcare to our community.

Since the APTA’s House of Delegates adopted a new vision statement of the physical therapy profession in 2013, skills of recognition and validation of the movement system have been emphasized to improve the human experience thorough physical therapy practice.

Based on this vison, the GMAL promotes varied research activities as well as learning experiences for physical therapy-related science.

Students and faculty who utilize GMAL must adhere to laboratory policy and procedures in order to maintain a safe and effective working environment.

Our facility is also available for collaboration with researchers who seek to quantify measures of movement in order to validate interventions, predict outcomes, or better understand the biomechanics of movement.

(Please note that the GMAL is used for research purposes only, and is not available to PT patients seeking a gait analysis for treatment. Please visit UNM Health for treatment.)

GMAL Equipment

Vicon Motion Analysis Systems

Human movement analysis has been an investigative and diagnostic tool to analyze postural control, gait patterns and sports performance. The GMAL is equipped with a ten-camera Vicon Motion Capture System with Vicon Nexus software (Vicon Motion Systems Ltd) as well as two HD cameras (Vicon Bonita), three AMTI force platforms (AMTI, Inc.), all of which provide comprehensive biomechanical variables such as joint angle and forces during movements.

Delsys Electromyography

All human movements are results of muscle activations with countering external forces. Electromyography (EMG) sensors measure the small electrical signals generated from a muscle. The GMAL includes a 16-channel EMG system (14 surface sensors and 2 fine wire sensors: Trigno® Delsys, Inc.) which allow us to identify neuromuscular activities during movements.

TekScan Pressure Mapping

Pressure distribution and movement of one's center of gravity plays an important role in controlling posture and balance ability. MatScanTM can measure variable foot pressures related to body weight in order to identify postural controls (Tekscan, Inc.).

The F-scan SystemTMA is a similar device which allows the researcher to capture pressure distribution, force and timing information of a foot during static or dynamic movements, even in a remote environment.

Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer

Quantified musculoskeletal force outputs are important for diagnosis and factors in other clinical decision making processes. An isokinetic dynamometer provides information of applied force related to the joint range of motion. The GMAL uses the Biodex System 3 (Biodex Medical Systems, Inc. Shirley NY) to assess muscle force/power outputs in an active collaboration with the Department of Exercise and Science.

Computational Modeling

The data captured by our lab equipment is used for computational modeling to analyze human movements. Our lab utilizes Vicon Polygon software, Visual 3D (C-motion, Inc. Germantown MD), EMGworks®, and other analysis software (e.g. Matlab, Labview and Microsoft office products) for computational modeling.

Clinical Gait Analysis

For needs of having gait patterns assessed outside of the GMAL, we utilize a portable GaitRite System. GaitRite uses long pressure mats (0.9x7m) with multiple pressure sensors to capture temporal and spatial variables during gait (GAIT4Dog Corp, Franklin NJ). With four digital cameras , our researchers can perform basic clinical gait analysis outside of the GMAL in a portable, controled environment.

For Researchers

If there are lab services that you might need, contact the GMAL Director.

All prices are subject to change

Peer Reviewed Publications

Barkocy, M. Dexter, J., Petronovich, C. (2017) Kinematic Gait Changes Following Serial Casting and Bracing in a Child with Autism who Exhibits Toe Walking. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 29(3): 270-274?
Barkocy, M., Zhenxiong, Z., Doty, D., and Dexter, J. (2019). A Comparison of Gait Parameters and Function Using Varying Orthotic Designs in a Child with Spastic Diplegic CP Post Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Surgery: A Case Report, Journal for Prosthetics and Orthotics, 30 (2): 152-158. doi: 10.1097/JPO.0000000000000189
Roper, J., Doerfler, DL., Kravitz, L. Dufek, J, Harding, EM, Dexter, JG, Mermier, CM. The Effects of Gait Retraining in Runners With Patellofemoral Pain: A randomized trial. Clinical Biomechanics. 35 (2016) 14–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2016.03.010
Wilmerding M.V., Gurney, A.B., Torres V. The Effect of Positive Heel Inclination on Posture in Young Children Training in Flamenco Dance. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science 7(3):85-90, 2003.
Provost B, Dieruf K, Burtner PA, Phillips JP, Bernitsky-Beddingfield A, Sullivan KJ, Bowen CA, Toser L. Endurance and Gait in Children with Cerebral Palsy Following Intensive Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training. Pediatric Physical Therapy 2007;19(1):2-10
Dieruf K, Burtner PA, Provost B, Phillips JA, Bernitsky-Beddingfield A, Sullivan KJ. Quality of Life in Children with Cerebral Palsy following Intensive Body-Weight Supported Treadmill Training. Pediatric Physical Therapy 2009;21:45–52.

Peer Reviewed Scientific and Professional Presentations

Kruger, S.E, Edwards, A.K., Baca L.S., Richter, L.R., and Yoshida, Y. Predicting Return-to-Sport with Psychosocial Constructs and Self-Reported Knee Functioning. Combined Section Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association) 2020, Denver CO.
Doerfler, L.D, Yoshida, Y., and Gurney AB., Effect of Upper Extremity Restraint on Gait Tempospatial Parameters and Trunk Motion in Older Adults. Combined Section Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association) 2020, Denver CO.
Enache, M.T., Yoshida, Y., and Johnson V., The Effects of Thoracolumbar Alignment on Postural Sway. Combined Section Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association) 2020, Denver CO.
Yoshida, Y. and Chen, TB. Biomechanical Characteristics of the Stand-up Test in American Adults: A Pilot Study to Examine Feasibility of 3D Analysis. the XXVII Congress International Biomechanics Society/the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Biomechanics Society in 2019, Calgary AB, CA
Shibata, D. and Yoshida, Y., Improvement of Postural Stability by a Self-mobilization Exercise Program. the XXVII Congress International Biomechanics Society/the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Biomechanics Society in 2019, Calgary AB, CA
Yoshida, Y., Zeni, AJ., and Zhu, YL., Clinical Validation of Geriatric Locomotive Functional Scale-25 for American Adults; A Pilot Study. Combined Section Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association) 2019, Washington DC.
Enache, M.T, Yoshida, Y. and Johnson S.V., Reliability of the Vertical Compression Test as Performed by Physical Therapy Students. Combined Section Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association) 2018 New Orleans, LA.
Doerfler, D., Yoshida, Y., Dierful, K., and Gurney, B. The Effect of Upper Extremity Restraint on Balance Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Pilot Study. Combined Section Meeting (American Physical Therapy Association) 2018 New Orleans, LA
Jones, M.B, Kurita, M., Fan, N., and Yoshida, Y. A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Ilium Innominate Movements to Evaluate a Clinical Diagnostic Test for Sacroiliac Joint Pain –A Pilot Study to Examine of 3D Analysis- Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society Annual Meeting 2017 Salt Lake City, UT.Gurney, A.B., The effect of positive heel inclination on the pelvic-lumbar posture of young flamenco dancers. Annual Meeting of the International Association of Dance in Medicine and Science, New York, New York, October 26th, 2002.
Barkocy, M., Dexter, J., Martinez, K. Kinematic Gait Changes Following Serial Casting and Bracing in a Child with Autism who Exhibits Toe Walking – A Chart Review. Poster presentation at the Southwest Conference on Development and Disability, 2012 and presentation at APTA Combined Sections Meeting, February 2015.
Kathy Dieruf, PT, PhD, NCS; Jerimiah MacDonald SPT; Luke Myers SPT. The Effect of the GivMohr Sling on Gait Parameters Post Stroke. Poster 2214, Neurology: Stroke SIG

In Review

Roper, J., Doerfler, D., Kravitz, L. Dufek, J, Mermier, C. Gait Retraining From Rearfoot Strike to Forefoot Strike Does Not Change Running Economy. Submitted August, 2016 to International Journal of Sports Medicine.

Contact Us

Division of Physical Therapy

MSC09 5230
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

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Phone: 505-272-5479