Interactive real-time and high-speed system for interdisciplinary analysis of functional and physiological movement processes

• Subject Area: Medical Informatics and Medical Bioinformatics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 498061329

The large device applied for will establish a unique research infrastructure at Trier University of Applied Sciences, which will enable multimodal quantification of functional and physiological movement and loading processes in a highly interdisciplinary environment for different health-relevant research fields. The aim is to further develop highly qualified interdisciplinary research in the following research areas: Prevention & (movement-)therapy of chronic non-specific back pain (F1), analysis of locomotion with influence of fear of/by movement/falls (F2) and research on the analysis of human voice production (F3).The scientific work requires a complex measurement platform that enables investigations of static to highly dynamic functional movement analyses under simulation of scenarios that are close to reality. The core of the overall system is an instrumented special split-belt treadmill for the application of multi-axial highly dynamic (disturbance) stimuli with 3D force measurement, which forms a fully integrated, synchronised and interactive overall solution with a 3D motion capture system, virtual reality and the recording of muscular activities. In addition, a high-speed (HG) video system is integrated, which enables temporally high-resolution movement analyses and observations of e.g. the reflex response of the trunk or the expression over the facial surface. Due to the modularity of the system, sub-component combinations can be flexibly used in different settings, adapted to specific research questions. With supplementary components, the high-speed video system is to be expanded into an independent, laryngoscopic high-speed voice research system. By using pattern recognition methods (deep learning), movement processes will be scientifically analysed and correlations identified. This will create a unique research infrastructure, enabling movement-related multimodal measurements in an interdisciplinary context (prevention, therapy, biomechanics, sports science, psychology phoniatrics).The system will strengthen the research focus of Life Sciences at Trier University of Applied Sciences, in particular, with the departments of computer science / therapeutic sciences and technology. The use of the system is to be closely linked to the approved Rheinland-Pfalz research college. Supplemented by the other university institutions involved in the application and the health campus (Gesundheitscampus) Trier, cooperative doctorates will be eminently feasible. The integration into the existing, excellent research network with many national and international research institutions will enable highly qualified, knowledge-oriented research at Trier University of Applied Sciences, publications in international journals, competitive third-party funding applications and new research directions.

• DFG Programme: Major Instrumentation Initiatives
• Major Instrumentation: High-Speed Videosystem ; Split-Belt-Spezial-Laufband (+Motion Capture, VR, etc.)
• Instrumentation Group: 3490 Sonstige medizinische Registriergeräte und Zubehör ; 5430 Hochgeschwindigkeits-Kameras (ab 100 Bilder/Sek)
• Applicant Institution: Hochschule Trier
• Participating Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main; Institut für Sportwissenschaften; Arbeitsbereich Sportmedizin und Leistungsphysiologie; Universität Trier; Fachbereich I - Pflegewissenschaft; Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst; Institut für Musik- und Bewegungspädagogik/Rhythmik sowie Musikphysiologie
• Leader: Professor Dr. Steffen Müller
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jörg Lohscheller