2020-2021 / BIOM0631-1

Human movement analysis

Duration

33h Th, 14h Pr, 15h Proj.

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering5 crédits 

Lecturer

Olivier Bruls, Cédric Schwartz

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Human motion analysis is a field at the interaction of the engineering sciences and various disciplines depending on the final users of the technology. Main fields of application of human motion analysis include medicine (orthopedics, geriatrics, rehabilitation medicine ...), video game and movie industry, sport, civil engineering ... Because of these numerous applications, studying human motion requires knowledge on how to acquire and process signals related to motion but also on how to express these outputs in order to answer to the demand of the end-users. Human motion analysis is consequently and usually a multi-disciplinary work that will require engineers to interact with other specialists from other fields of expertise.
This course will explore all the pipeline of the acquisition process: protocol definition, practical use of measurement systems, processing of signal and use of musculo-skeletal models to evaluate the motion. The course will therefore be composed of both theoretical and practical activities including:
Theoretical activities:

  • Kinematics and kinetics of the human body
  • Muscle biomechanics
  • Musculoskeletal modeling
 
Practical activities:
  • Evaluation of motion inside and outside of the lab
  • Evaluation of the muscular activity (in the lab)
  • Evaluation of the muscular strength (at the CHU of Liège)

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, you should have acquire an understanding of the common framework used to describe the human motion, a global overview of the tools that can be used in motion analysis and an introduction to the use of both lab and low-cost instrumentation used for motion analysis. These learning outcomes will include:

  • Evaluation of the human kinematics and kinetics (from measuring tools to signal processing)
  • Evaluation of the muscular activity (from measuring tools to signal processing)
  • Musculo-skeletal modelling
  • Applications of motion analysis in research and industry

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Learning activities will include:

  • Theoretical lessons to acquire the basic concepts of motion analysis
  • Practical lessons to acquire practice with both the acquisition tools in the lab and the processing/modelling ones.
  • Projects which should help you to integrate all previous knowledge

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

Recommended or required readings

Books and articles in relation to the teaching content will be given after each lesson.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

The evaluation will be composed of 3 parts:
- group project on new technologies (report and presentation): 25% of the final quote
- group project on musculoskeletal modeling using Opensim (report): 25% of the final quote
- individual oral exam: 50% of the final quote
 
The health context should not modify the evaluation of the course. The oral exam will be done either face-to-face or via visio depending of the context.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

cedric.schwartz@uliege.be