Movement and Gait Lab

The School of Rehabilitation Sciences Movement and Gait Lab is a facility that is dedicated to the study of human body movement to further understand movement, gait and its abnormalities. Using cutting edge techniques, students and faculty can perform custom modeling, use assistive devices and be informed of therapeutic and surgical interventions. The purpose of this in-lab study is to further promote student research in how they can evaluate and prescribe mobility interventions that promote overall patient well-being.

State-of-the-Art-Equipment

Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer

Parvomedics Metabolic Cart and Trackmaster Treadmill

Velotron Cycle Ergometer and Metabolic Cart

16-Channel Delsys Wireless Electromyography

Qualisys and Visual 3D Software

High-Speed Qualisys Cameras

Biodex Balance Platform

Force Plates

Intelligently Controlled Assistive Rehabilitation Elliptical (iCARE)

Cardiorespiratory Assessment in Children with Disabilities

Goals:

To validate the Non-Exercise Test questionnaire against a portable gas analyzer (K5, COSMED, Italy) during a 6-minute-walk-test in children with motor disabilities.

UIW Investigator: Dr. Alexis Ortiz
UIW DPT student investigators: Isabel Gracia, Willie Lopez, Juan Ortiz, Megan Vargas
Funded by The Texas Physical Therapy Foundation

Effectiveness of blood flow restriction (BFR) training on balance, knee stability, strength, and aerobic performance during aerobic cycling exercise in healthy adults

Goals:

  1. Compare physical performance measures of balance, isokinetic muscle strength, knee stability, and aerobic capacity between cycling exercise with and without BFR.
  2. Compare physical performance measures between performing cycling exercise at 60% versus 80% blood flow occlusion.
  3. Compare physical performance measures between bilateral BFR versus single-leg BFR during a cycling protocol.

UIW Investigators: Drs. Alexis Ortiz and Jason Winchester
UIW DPT Investigators: David Calderón, Gian Cruz, Blake Doughtie, Nicole Hoppe, Jovannah Ortiz, Savannah Nickel, Wesley Okeke, Derek Wengert

Funded by The Texas Society of Allied Health Professions and The Texas Physical Therapy Foundation

Second year students, David Calderón and Blake Doughtie presented at the Texas Chapter of The American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. 

Abstracts and video

Calderon, David; Cruz, Gian; Doughtie, Blake; Hoppe, Nicole; Winchester, Jason; and Ortiz, Alexis FACSM (2021) "Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Aerobic Performance During Cycling Exercise in Healthy Adults," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings : Vol. 2 : Iss. 13 , Article 22.  Video Presentation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSAUdyV0Y8M&feature=youtu.be

Doughtie, Blake; Calderon, David; Cruz, Gian; Hoppe, Nicole; Winchester, Jason; and Ortiz, Alexis (2021) "Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Isokinetic Muscle Strength of the Quadriceps," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2 : Iss. 13 , Article 68. Video Presentation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQWVk5WmmFU&feature=youtu.be