Human Movement
Complexity Laboratory
Biomechanics is the study of how forces affect how we move.
For example, when you stub your toe, there is a force from the impact of your toe on the table, and I am sure you know how that affects your movements. Biomechanics is a wide field that can examine forces on your teeth when you chew (dental biomechanics) or forces that cause injuries, like an ACL tear. Our lab focuses in a slightly different area of biomechanics.
When we move, we don’t move like robots.
Each movement is not exactly like the last one. We have variability in how we move. So much so that we are able to complete the same task using different muscles or even limbs. Think about writing your name with your non-dominant hand. You can still complete the task but it isn’t the same as doing it with your dominant hand.
How our research makes a difference
Movement complexity explores the nature of this variability, the patterns or fluctuations in our movements. In particular, our lab’s work is focused on walking and standing. Our goal is to understand the nature of this complexity and if it has been lost due to disease or injury, to introduce techniques to restore complexity.
Research
Solving real-world problems
The variability of movement can be quantified using traditional tools like standard deviation and range, which gives us the amount of variability. We can also quantify patterns or fluctuations in our movements—the complexity of the movement. Are the patterns too predictable or too random? As we age, suffer from an injury or disease, we lose complexity in our movements.
The Human Movement Complexity Laboratory has studies in three major areas:
Quantifying Complexity
There are many tools that scientists use to quantify patterns and fluctuations in movement. Our work is focused on ensuring that these tools are valid and reliable. We have focused much of our work on the use of entropy. A recent review provides guidelines for consideration.
Coupling of Biorhythms
Different rhythms of the body are entrained, or coupled with one another. This is true for walking and breathing rhythms. In the past, we have studied how walking and breathing rhythm coupling is altered in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Recently, we’ve broadened our focus and are exploring coupling of different biorhythms, coupling of signals captured through wearables, and the impact coupling may have on performance.
Aging and Resilience
We have always had an interest in functional outcomes as a person ages, especially with performing more than one task at a time. Or how disruptions to one’s walking or balance can alter their behavior. Our current work is focused on determining objective measures of resiliency, especially when confronted with a challenge to their movement.
Join Us
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
We are always looking for students to work with us in the lab. Interested students are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Yentes by sending her your resume/CV and a quick reason as to why you are interested in working in the lab. If you don’t have a resume, that is okay! Go ahead and send an email. Also, talk to the current students or former students to learn more about what it is like to work in the lab day-to-day and working with Dr. Yentes.
RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS
If you are interested in joining our research participation interest list, please contact us below. Thank you!
Development of Effective Measures to Mitigate Ergonomic Risks Associated with Firefighting Tasks among Male and Female Structural Firefighters
- We are currently enrolling for firefighter study. If you are an active-duty, structural, professional firefighter in the Bryan/College Station area, and are interested in learning more, please send us your name and email and we will reach out.
- Inclusion criteria:
- healthy adults aged 21-65 years
- current active-duty, structural, professional (career or volunteer) structural firefighter
- possess a minimum of three years full-time structural, professional firefighting experience in the United States
Interested in participating?
Leave us your name and email, and we’ll be in touch with more information.
You may also reach out to the research team via email or phone.