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The PoCo Loco Lab

Goals

The PoCo Loco Lab is an interdisciplinary research team focused on postural control and locomotion biomechanics. Our goal is to improve our understanding of balance and movement to increase functional capacity, independence, participation in physical activity, and quality of life in individuals with and without movement impairments.

The primary mission of the PoCo Loco Lab (“Postural Control and Locomotion”) is to improve balance and movement in individuals with and without movement impairments. As a result of our work, we aim to increase functional capacity, independence, participation in physical activity, quality of life, and performance. As part of this effort, we are striving to overcome two of the greatest barriers to translating fundamental postural control research into an implementable practice: complex intervention requirements and limited access to the necessary equipment. Developing effective tools that are simple and accessible will increase our ability to make tangible improvements in postural control and decrease the barriers to participation in physical activity for individuals at risk of falling.

Issues Involved or Addressed

Key issues we explore include:
  • The effects of pregnancy and post-partum recovery on postural control.
  • Understanding movement across all four postural control domains (standing, anticipatory, walking, and reactive).
  • Development of simple and accessible intervention tools to improve postural control.
  • The effects of postural control improvements on fall risk, fall incidence, functional mobility, participation in physical activity, and quality of life.
  • Applications of biomechanics to improve sports performance.

Methods and Tech

The PoCo Loco Lab primarily engages in human participant research utilizing a wide range of technology to collect data for our aims. Prior experience with any of these methods is welcomed but not required:
  • Marker-based 3D motion capture (e.g., Vicon, Qualisys, OptiTrack)
  • Markerless motion capture (e.g., Theia, OpenCap)
  • Wearable sensors (e.g., ActiGraph, Fitbit, IMUs)
  • Metabolic measurements (e.g., ParvoMedics, VO2 Master)
  • Force plates (e.g., Bertec, BTrackS, Wii Balance Board)
  • Instrumented treadmills (e.g., Bertec Fit5, BalanceTutor)
  • Surface electromyography (e.g., Noraxon)
  • Video analysis (e.g., Dartfish, Kinovea)
  • Questionnaires (e.g., Qualisys, REDCap)
  • Custom software (e.g., MATLAB, LabVIEW, Visual3D)

Academic Majors of Interest

  • Relevant Majors and Disciplines
  • Students from a wide range of academic backgrounds are encouraged to participate, including:
  • Public Health and Health Sciences
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Biostatistics
  • Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Data, Technology, and Analytics
  • Data Science
  • Statistics
  • Computer Science
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Communication and Creative Fields
  • Communication
  • Journalism
  • Marketing
  • Media Arts
  • Policy and Education
  • Public Policy
  • Education
  • School Counseling

Preferred Interests and Preparation

No prior experience required. Students in the PoCo Loco Lab are expected to be…
  • Adaptable – We are dynamic in our approach as part of the learning process.
  • Curious – We ask questions and pursue our interests.
  • Engaged – We are present and focused on the lab’s tasks.                      
  • Persistent – We continue forward despite mistakes and challenges.
  • Professional – We represent the University and all members of the lab when we interact with participants and clinical partners.
  • Reliable – We are on time and responsive.
 
**Preference will be given to prospective students who will be part of the team for 1+ years to increase the continuity of the research team for established long-term projects and to provide leadership opportunities.

Application Process

To express interest in this team, please complete the VIP Interest Form and select "PoCo Loco Lab."
 
This team:
 
  • Accepts students at the start of each semester
  • This team recruits students for both credit and pay options (including federal work-study) for VIP participation, as available

Team Advisor

James Tracy, PhD