Motion Analysis Research Center
The Motion Analysis Research Center (MARC) is a premier, interdisciplinary laboratory created for students and faculty to collaborate on evaluation and research related to human motion and kinesiology.
The Motion Analysis Research Center (MARC) is a premier, interdisciplinary laboratory created for students and faculty to collaborate on evaluation and research related to human motion and kinesiology.
The MARC is a state-of-the-art research and teaching facility offering immersive and dynamic learning experiences for students in kinesiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatric medicine, physician assistant, and nursing programs at Samuel Merritt University.
Students, faculty, and health care professionals can study biomechanics, balance, gait, upper and lower body movement, and the effect of athletic training, clinical intervention methods, and wearable technology—valuable evidence-based findings that can then be applied to client services and patient care.
The MARC also allows students and faculty to work side-by-side on significant research initiatives and clinical trials to find solutions to movement challenges impacting people’s lives.
Each year, students and faculty members team up to learn, discover, and share findings related to human motion, many of which could lead to improving the quality of life for those with movement disorders. Below are a few examples of recent projects and studies.
MARC researchers also partner with other academic institutions and medical facilities.
Andrew (Drew) Smith, B.P.E., M.H.K., M.Ed., Ph.D., Professor and MARC director, has nearly 45 years of experience in the field of human movement analysis, clinical and sports biomechanics, and kinesiology. He has worked internationally in academic and clinical settings, and research labs in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and now, the USA. His primary areas of research are posture, balance, and gait, in particular, the neuromuscular control of motion across a wide spectrum of movements. Before coming to SMU, Drew was an associate professor and associate head of the Department of Health and Physical Education at The Education University of Hong Kong. Drew holds adjunct appointments in the College of Health Sciences departments of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, as well as the College of Podiatric Medicine. He is also an affiliated faculty member of the joint University of California Berkeley/UC San Francisco's Ergonomic Research and Graduate Training Program and is an Industry Partner in the University of California Berkeley's College of Engineering MEng Capstone Program.
Bob Baker, PT, Ph.D., MARC clinical assistant professor. Baker has 30 years of blended experience in orthopedic physical therapy and clinical research. He writes and publishes on lower extremity biomechanics, including best practice Iliotibial Band Syndrome. His research interests have focused on the biomechanical investigation of lower extremity running injuries. Other research interests include motor control and functional testing related to orthopedic and sports injuries.
MARC is well-equipped and continually updated with the high-tech tools needed to study movement and collect data. Hardware includes:
Motion Analysis Corporation 12 Kestrel Camera Motion Capture System, featuring Cortex software
Xsens MVN Analyze Inertial Monitoring Units (IMUs) for camera-free, full-body 3D motion capture
C-Motion Visual 3D, advanced research software for biomechanical analysis of 3D motion capture data
AMTI Floor-Mounted Force Platforms (x 6)
AMTI Instrumented Treadmill with two force platforms
Delsys Trigno and Avanti Wireless Electromyography (EMG) Systems (32-channels)
Novel EMED and PEDAR Pressure Mapping Systems
Tekscan F-Scan Pressure Mapping System
Protokinetics Zeno Gait Walkway
Natus Smart Equitest Balance Manager
Cosmed K5 Wearable Metabolic Testing System
Lumbar Motion Monitor
Aretech Zero-G Passive Gait Training System
Biodex System 4 Pro Isokinetic Dynamometer
APDM Mobility Lab Comprehensive Gait & Balance Analysis