The focus of the seminar series is to call for experts related to academia and research in the areas related to biomechanics, variability, motor disorders, physical therapy, and related studies.

"Weird Walks, Mobile Measurements, and Adaptable Ankles"

Presentation Abstract:

Human locomotion is a highly dynamic activity demanding coordination across many parts of the body. Typical movement patterns are often considered optimal in certain ways, such as for minimum energy consumption or favorable stability; yet these patterns differ across individuals and can be altered by age, injury, or behavior. This presentation will interweave several areas of ongoing research in locomotion biomechanics and motor control, such as: why and how upper body movement can affect the ankles; wearable technology and methods to measure and alter biomechanics in the “real world”; and biomechatronic prosthetic ankles to improve stability and balance.

About Dr. Adamczyk

Dr. Peter Adamczyk earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (B.S.) and the University of Michigan (M.S. and Ph.D.) in the areas of Robotics and Biomechanics. He spent several years running a startup company dedicated to advancing the science and technology of lower-limb prosthetics and real-world motion assessment. He is not the Mead Witter Foundation Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he directs the Biomechatronics, Assistive Devices, Gait Engineering, and Rehabilitation Laboratory (UW BADGER Lab, http://uwbadgerlab.engr.wisc.edu)

Dr. Adamczyk’s research aims to enhance physical and functional recovery from impairments affecting walking, running, and standing. Core foci include basic research on locomotion biomechanics; design of semi-active foot prostheses for gait restoration after amputation; wearable sensors for movement assessment during real-life activities; and rehabilitation robotics to explore motor learning and neural adaptation in the lower limb.