International Conference on Clinical Biomechanics

Four students currently studying three different courses at the Institute of Motion Analysis & Research (TORT Centre) had the opportunity to present their research at the 15th International Conference on Clinical Biomechanics at Staffordshire University Campus, Stoke-on-Trent on May 4-6th, 2017.

Dr Tim Drew and Dr Graham Arnold from the Institute of Motion Analysis & Research (IMAR) accompanied the students representing the School of Medicine who spoke on their current research for ten minutes each followed by short Q&A sessions:

• Erin Frizzell (BMSc Applied Orthopaedic Technology) - A comparison of branded rugby head guards on their effectiveness in reducing impact on the head

• Katharine Johnson (MRes Sports Biomechanics and Rehabilitation) - A biomechanical comparison of stationary and sliding ergometer rowing using 3D motion analysis and electromyography

• Claire Waugh (BMSc Applied Orthopaedic Technology) - How to minimise knee joint damage in the shinty swing

• Iris Willaert (MSc in Motion Analysis) - Comparison of integrated knitted football shoes to a classic football shoe in lower limb biomechanics

Dr Tim Drew stated: “All four students presented extremely professionally and each research topic fostered an exchange of questions from the audience floor, not only at the Q&A sessions immediately after each talk but well into the evening at the after conference dinner at Keele Hall.”

Left to right: Iris Willaert, Erin Frizzell, Claire Waugh, and Katharine Johnson

Building on the success of previous meetings, the conference provides a forum for information dissemination on lower limb clinical biomechanics and facilitates discussion on research and case studies in this field via plenary sessions. This year the conferenced focussed on musculoskeletal biomechanics of the lower limb, with sessions dedicated to (1) biomechanics of musculoskeletal injury in sport, (2) biomechanics of the foot at risk (with a focus on Diabetes), (3) footwear biomechanics and orthotics and (4) novel techniques in clinical assessment.

The keynote speakers outlined the latest developments in the area of pathomechanics and pathology of the foot at risk and highlighted the role of technology in better understanding biomechanical principles, concentrating on the diagnosis and management of patients. There was the opportunity for debate and analysis of issues surrounding these topics. The conference is organised each year by Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam, Professor of Clinical Biomechanics at Staffordshire University.

Professor Rami Abboud, Director of IMAR and Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching at the School of Medicine, stated:

“This is now the 14th year we have been taking students to this prestigious international conference and it is always an extremely difficult decision selecting only a handful of our students to present. The standard of the research carried out at IMAR (TORT Centre) remains so amazingly high and exceptionally varied that we could easily have taken every student, confident in the fact that they would represent the University with great skill. The ones chosen all presented their research extremely professionally. I hope the long car journeys to Stoke and back were worth the effort and that the students enjoyed the chance to gain valuable experience of attending and presenting at a scientific conference. Professor Chockalingam emailed me on Sunday to congratulate us on the excellent presentations that our students delivered.”