Project Info
Biomechanics of Balance Regulation in Daily Living Activities
Anne Silverman
asilverm@mines.edu
Project Goals and Description:
The goal of this project is to investigate the effects of different movement strategies used by older adults to maintain balance control and stability during daily activities. Specifically, this project will track ground reaction forces, body segment movement, and surface muscle activity to quantify balance performance metrics. Students will analyze experimental data from human movement trials data to help inform rehabilitation strategies and proactively reduce injurious falls.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Not applicable.
- Lab website: https://fbl.mines.edu/
- Publication: Compensation due to age-related decline in sit-to-stand and sit-to-walk. Eline van der Kruk, Anne K Silverman, Peter Reilly, Anthony M J Bull. J Biomech. 2021 Jun 9;122:110411. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33915476/)
- Publication: Effect of ageing and vision on limb load asymmetry during quiet stance. Blaszczyk JW, Prince F, Raiche M, Hébert R. J Biomech. 2000 Oct;33(10):1243-8. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10899333/)
Primary Contacts:
Anne Silverman, asilverm@mines.edu | Michael Miller, mfmiller@mines.edu.
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Introductory coding skills as well as a basic knowledge of dynamics and biology. Student should be self-motivated, with a desire to learn human biomechanics experimental data collection, processing, and analysis techniques.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
5
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
Programming for data analysis, clinical assessments of balance performance, biomechanical data collection, data analysis, scientific communication
MENTORING PLAN
The student will present brief research updates at our biweekly lab meetings, as well as meet with Dr. Silverman and Michael Miller on the other weeks. The student will also work directly with graduate student Michael Miller on a day-to-day basis for training, research updates, and guidance with questions. The student will be integrated into our research group with communication via Slack and professional development activities. There will be milestones with a projected timeline setup at the beginning of the academic year and will be revisited periodically.
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior