Body

The Applied Research in Musculoskeletal Simulation (ARMS) Lab strives to use biomechanics as a framework for investigating how we move and control our arms and hands. We are especially motivated to apply this research to help improve function following injuries and impairments that affect the hand and arm.

The foundation for our work is the development of biomechanical models that accurately represent the mechanical actions of the muscles in the upper limb. Computer simulations are integrated with quantitative anatomy (including medical imaging), intraoperative measurements, and dynamometry to better characterize the basic functional capabilities of individual muscles and to quantify how these capabilities are altered by physical impairments or surgical interventions. Our work has relevance over a broad scope, including basic motor control, the design of control systems for exoskeletons and upper limb prosthetics, restoration of hand and arm function following cervical spinal cord injury, rehabilitation of hand and arm function following stroke, orthopaedic interventions for osteoarthritis, and prevention of injuries in baseball pitching.