Project partner UMCG
WHO ARE We?
The department ‘Human Movement Sciences’ is part of the Research and Education section of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and the medical faculty of the University of Groningen. The main focus of our research is to develop knowledge about the mechanisms of human movement and performance and to apply this knowledge to optimize human movement and human performance in healthy and clinical populations over the lifespan (healthy ageing). Our main activities are education and scientific research, and strive towards excellence and innovation. By educating the next generation of movement- and sport scientists, we aim to have a positive effect on the society that we live in. The department of Human Movement Sciences is responsible for the Bachelor program Human Movement Sciences and two Master programs: Human Movement Sciences and Sport Sciences. In total, approximately 800 BSc and MSc students, 35 PhD-students and 80 employees are involved in the department.
Our research towards human movement is conducted within the scope of healthy ageing, rehabilitation and sports guided by prof. dr. Claudine Lamoth, prof. dr. Han Houdijk and prof. dr. Koen Lemmink (department head), respectively. Our scientific efforts are characterized as multi- and interdisciplinary and combines knowledge and theoretical frameworks from bio- and neuromechanics, anatomy, physiology, psychology and a healthy lifestyle and varies from fundamental to applied research. The variation in expertise of our researchers and support staff allows us to use advanced technology to optimize human movement and performance. To achieve this, we use, among other things, virtual reality (GRAIL), neurophysiological methods (e.g., EMG, EEG, fNIRS) and motion capture (optotrak, vicon). Our knowledge and methods are also applied in the “Parkinson Vibrating Socks” project.
What are our responsibilities?
The contribution of the department Human Movement Sciences of the UMCG within the "Parkinson Vibrating Socks" project is to evaluate the acceptance, usability and feasibility of the “vibrating socks”. In addition, we are involved in the development of a concept of data use of the system that is being developed. Moreover, we use our VR-systems to evaluate the functionality of the ‘vibrating socks’ in realistic and daily environments. To do so, we have access to an instrumented treadmill, a 180° virtual reality screen, a vicon motion capture system and the possibility to integrate neurophysiological measurements of brain and muscle activity. As such, our system offers the opportunity to test the virtual environments and compare the high-quality data from our project parter University of Münster with the data collected in the Netherlands. Our expertise of neurophysiological measurements could subsequently be used to further understand and improve the functionality of the ‘vibrating socks’. We look forward tot he collaboration feedback and interest in the project.