There is a growing need for research into challenges related to capacity, function, activity, and participation in society for individuals with reduced function.
The research group has a particular focus on prosthetic and orthotic users’ and is concerned with understanding the stresses and limitations these persons face in work, education, leisure and everyday life.
The research group's approach to research in this fields is distinctly interdisciplinary and cross-professional.
We work systematically to build a bridge between health technology, assistive technology and therapeutic measures that can contribute to modern, knowledge-based treatment, rehabilitation and habilitation of prosthetic and orthotic users.
The group belongs to the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Head of research group
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Members
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More about the research group
Function, capacity and mobility of prosthetic and orthotic users
Increased knowledge regarding prosthetic and orthotic users' functional ability, capacity and mobility, including biomechanical loads during ambulation is important both for the society at large and for the individual users.
This is also the case for several patient groups with neurological complaints.
Strengthening research in this area can contribute to improving the individual user's health and quality of life, and to a better understanding of how the activities of daily life challenge the users' functional ability and physical and biomechanical capacities.
This research is important for the development of modern and advanced orthopedic aids, as well as for effective and person-centered rehabilitation of these user groups.
We use a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative research-tools: Focus-group interviews, systematic reviews, wearable equipment for measuring energy-expenditure and physical activity during ambulation.
We also perform advanced 3D motion analysis in our laboratory.
Digital innovations and Assistive technology in health
The group is actively engaged in digital innovations. We focus on 3D scanning and we have recently established a 3D scanning lab.
We see great future opportunities within the design and production of e.g. implants, prostheses and orthoses with this technology.
The group also focuses on wearable sensor technology, such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) which provides unique opportunities to study neuronal responses during e.g. challenging walking situations for prosthetic/orthotic users.
We also use machine learning and augmented reality in connection with the treatment of phantom pain, and with sensor soles and accelerometers we can carry out objective examinations of gait patterns/gait function and level of physical activity outside the laboratory.
We believe that new health technology and assistive technology can contribute to solving challenges and problems related to the development of better diagnostic, health-promoting and rehabilitative measures for prosthetic and orthotic users and individuals with neurological complaints.
Student involvement in research and development of digital tools for education
The research group has a strong focus on involving students in research projects.
We aim to include as many students as possible to participate in the group's ongoing research projects in connection with their bachelor's and master's theses.
In connection with this, we actively investigate how student involvement in research projects affects learning outcomes and attitudes towards one's own professional practice.
We also focus on how to implement Mixed Reality smart glasses (Microsoft Hololens2) in holographic anatomy/physiology teaching for students at our institute, and we are developing an application for hologram-based learning of biomechanics for prosthetics and orthotics.
The visualization and understanding of how the body function is a big challenge for students to achieve an adequate level of knowledge.
The use of hologram-assisted learning provides unique opportunities to increase the students' knowledge and skills in basic health subjects which are fundamental in the education of health personnel.
We believe that our investment in this can contribute to the promotion of research-based teaching, stimulate to better and more evidence-based clinical practice and understanding, as well as motivate bachelor's students to further master's studies, and possibly PhD studies.
Research infrastructure
The CAT group has modern and very well-equipped laboratories: the Movement Analysis Laboratory (BevLab) and the Physiology Laboratory (FysLab).
These research facilities enable a large variety of analyzes and investigations within
- biomechanics and movement analysis
- neuro-imaging
- force development and muscle activation
- cardiovascular physiology
- activity analysis
- metabolism and energy expenditure
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Cooperation
- Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital
- Unicare Bakke
