MOVI-LAB PURPOSES

The underlying principle of the laboratory’s research endeavor is to understand the neuromechanisms of human movement.

Our group studies how human movement is planned and controlled, with a particular focus on movement disorders and sports performance. Our research approach consists of a combination of experimental, interventional, and clinical studies aimed at unraveling the interplay between neural, perceptual, and motor systems while considering organismic, task-related, and environmental constraints. These approaches are developed to enhance and rehabilitate human movement. To achieve these aims, the studies employ neuromechanical (e.g., motion capture tools, EEG, fNIRS, force plates, and EMG) and perceptual (e.g., eye-tracking) methodologies to investigate human movement and related disorders.

Fields of researche

1) Neuromechanics and Rehabilitation applied to Movement Disorders

The main focuses of this research field are:

  1. The impact of movement disorders on gait and postural neuromechanics and adaptability.
  2. Rehabilitation strategies, such as motor (e.g., exercise) and non-motor interventions, to improve movement in individuals with movement disorders.

Experimental and clinical trial setups are applied to understand neural, sensory, and motor adaptations in gait and posture in individuals with movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease) and to develop rehabilitation and training programs that promote safe and independent mobility in complex environments, preventing falls and related issues. This research approach is crucial for advancing the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of movement disorders and for developing measurement tools that can be applied outside the laboratory setting.

2) Impact of Fatigue on Gait and Posture Neuromechanics

The main focuses of this research field are:

  1. Gait and posture adaptability to fatigue.
  2. Recovery of the neuromotor system, particularly regarding gait and posture, after fatigue.

The studies employ complexity manipulations (e.g., obstructed walking, static balance in a tandem position), different types of fatigue (e.g., mental and muscular fatigue), and sensorimotor handling (e.g., saccadic eye movements and asymmetry) to understand neural, sensory, and motor adaptations during walking and postural tasks in young adults, older adults, and individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, this field of research aims to develop innovative methods to measure fatigability that can be used both inside and outside the laboratory setting. This research approach is valuable as it allows for investigating the impact of diseases and aging on muscle torque-generating capacity without confounding factors such as pain, swelling, and related issues.

3) Biomechanics, Motor Control and Sports Performance

The main focuses of this research field are:

  1. The neuromechanics of sports movements within the sports context and their associated performance.
  2. Training and rehabilitation strategies to improve movement characteristics and performance outcomes.

Studies are conducted outside laboratory settings and in competition environments (often in controlled situations) to investigate the effects of personal characteristics (e.g., sleep quality, cortical activity, blood metabolites, lower limb asymmetry) and contextual conditions (e.g., warm-up and recovery strategies, perception, sensory feedback, and training) on sports movement performance. This approach allows for translating findings into real-world practice and expanding the understanding of sports movement performance in competitive scenarios. This research is particularly relevant as it helps bridge fundamental insights with controlled experimental and interventional studies, contributing to the development of training and rehabilitation strategies to enhance sports movement performance.