Title: Steps and strides: Cross-species insights into movement and injury
Abstract:
Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of pain, functional limitation, and reduced quality of life, with increasing prevalence driven by aging, obesity, and physical inactivity. Early and accurate diagnosis remains a persistent clinical challenge, particularly when assessment relies on subjective observation of movement and patient-reported outcomes.
This presentation focuses on the role of objective gait and biomechanical analysis in improving the detection and monitoring of musculoskeletal dysfunction. Subclinical alterations in movement and weight-bearing often precede overt clinical symptoms, yet these changes are frequently undetectable through standard visual assessment.
Using a translational, cross-species framework, this work integrates advanced motion capture systems with pressure-based platforms to quantify spatiotemporal parameters, limb loading, and gait symmetry. These technologies provide high-resolution, reproducible data that can enhance clinical decision-making and support longitudinal monitoring of disease progression and treatment response. Advanced imaging modalities are incorporated when indicated to complement functional assessments with structural evaluation.
Comparative models offer a unique advantage in studying movement without reliance on subjective feedback, providing insight into biomechanical adaptations relevant to non-verbal or communication-limited patient populations. This approach also enables controlled investigation of injury mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
The integration of objective biomechanical metrics into clinical and research settings has significant implications for improving diagnostic precision, optimizing rehabilitation strategies, and informing the development and evaluation of therapeutics and assistive devices. This cross-disciplinary perspective underscores the value of quantitative movement analysis in advancing musculoskeletal health and translational research.
