Motion Analysis Research Center

Research and Education

The Motion Analysis Research Center (MARC) is Samuel Merritt University's interdisciplinary biomechanics laboratory. Students and faculty study human movement with applications in sports medicine, rehabilitation, injury prevention, and patient care.

The MARC supports education across physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatric medicine, physician assistant studies, and nursing. Students work alongside faculty on research and clinical investigations, gaining firsthand experience with movement science and research methods.

Research ranges from gait and biomechanics to athletic performance and wearable technology. Much of the work examines how a better understanding of movement can improve clinical practice and help prevent injury.

Research in Action

Faculty and students collaborate on applied research that advances movement science and its application to patient care. Recent projects include:

• Maximalist Footwear — Research examining how highly cushioned footwear influences walking and running mechanics using three-dimensional gait analysis and pressure mapping.
• Walking Mechanics — Studies investigating how speed and incline affect balance and stability during walking, particularly for individuals with mobility challenges.
• Circus Arts Biomechanics — Three-dimensional motion analysis of elite aerial performers to better understand movement strategies and muscle activation, with the goal of helping prevent injury.
• ACL Injury Prevention — Collaborative research with the University of California, Berkeley exploring how three-dimensional motion capture can improve understanding of ACL injuries and inform future approaches to prevention.

Research Partnerships

The Motion Analysis Research Center collaborates with academic institutions and healthcare organizations to expand research opportunities and interdisciplinary learning.

Current partnerships include:

• University of California, Berkeley / University of California, San Francisco Ergonomic Research and Graduate Training Program — Expanding research capabilities in occupational and environmental health
• University of California, Berkeley College of Engineering — Master of Engineering Capstone Industry Partner

Technology

MARC researchers use advanced motion analysis and clinical assessment technology to study how people move. These tools support research in biomechanics, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and injury prevention while giving students experience with technology used in movement science and clinical practice.

Current equipment includes:

• Motion Analysis Corporation — 12 Kestrel Camera Motion Capture System, featuring Cortex software
• Movella — MVN Analyze Inertial Monitoring Units (IMUs) for camera-free, full-body 3D motion capture
• StretchSense — Premium hand motion capture gloves
• 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 tandem 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
• NexGen Ergonomics — Lumbar Motion Monitor
• Aretech — Zero-G Passive Gait Training System
• Biodex — System 4 Pro Isokinetic Dynamometer

Visit the Motion Analysis Research Center

525 12th Street, Room 132
Oakland, California 94607How to Find the MARC

525 12th Street, Room 132, Oakland, California USA 94607