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Objective measures of rollator user stability and device loading during different walking scenarios (2019)
Journal Article
Costamagna, E., Thies, S., Kenney, L., Howard, D., Lindemann, U., Klenk, J., & Baker, R. (2019). Objective measures of rollator user stability and device loading during different walking scenarios. PLoS ONE, 14(1), e0210960. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210960

Walking aids are widely used by older adults, however, alarmingly, their use has been linked to increased falls-risk, yet clinicians have no objective way of assessing user stability. This work aims to demonstrate the application of a novel methodolo... Read More about Objective measures of rollator user stability and device loading during different walking scenarios.

A review of the design and clinical evaluation of the ShefStim array-based functional electrical stimulation system (2016)
Journal Article
Kenney, L., Heller, B., Barker, A., Reeves, M., Healey, J., Good, T., …Howard, D. (2016). A review of the design and clinical evaluation of the ShefStim array-based functional electrical stimulation system. Medical Engineering and Physics, 38(11), 1159 -1165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2016.08.005

Functional electrical stimulation has been shown to be a safe and effective means of correcting foot drop of central neurological origin. Current surface-based devices typically consist of a single channel stim- ulator, a sensor for determining gait... Read More about A review of the design and clinical evaluation of the ShefStim array-based functional electrical stimulation system.

A flexible finite state controller for upper limb functional electrical stimulation (2016)
Presentation / Conference
Sun, M., Kenney, L., Smith, C., Waring, K., Luckie, H., & Howard, D. (2016, June). A flexible finite state controller for upper limb functional electrical stimulation. Poster presented at 20th Annual Conference of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society, La Grande-Motte, France

This paper reports on a flexible finite stage machine (FSM) controller for the real-time control of functional electrical stimulation (FES) during upper limb rehabilitation, and an associated setup Graphical User Interface (GUI) guides clinical users... Read More about A flexible finite state controller for upper limb functional electrical stimulation.

Meta-analysis of metabolic cost of amputee walking shows only a marginal improvement in cost when using ESR feet compared to conventional SACH feet (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Gardiner, J., Bari, Z., Kenney, L., & Howard, D. (2015, June). Meta-analysis of metabolic cost of amputee walking shows only a marginal improvement in cost when using ESR feet compared to conventional SACH feet. Presented at ISPO World Congress 2015, Lyon, France

Background: Energy storage and return (ESR) prosthetic feet are designed to store strain energy during stance and release that energy during push-off and, hence, promote a more energy efficient gait. However, despite ESR feet being prescribed for app... Read More about Meta-analysis of metabolic cost of amputee walking shows only a marginal improvement in cost when using ESR feet compared to conventional SACH feet.

Biomechanical analysis of force distribution in human finger extensor mechanisms (2014)
Journal Article
Hu, D., Ren, L., Howard, D., & Zong, C. (2014). Biomechanical analysis of force distribution in human finger extensor mechanisms. BioMed Research International, 2014, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/743460

The complexities of the function and structure of human fingers have long been recognised. The in vivo forces in the human finger tendon network during different activities are critical information for clinical diagnosis, surgical treatment, prosthet... Read More about Biomechanical analysis of force distribution in human finger extensor mechanisms.

Biomechanical analysis of the human finger extensor mechanism during isometric pressing (2014)
Journal Article
Milanese, S., Hu, D., Howard, D., & Ren, L. (2014). Biomechanical analysis of the human finger extensor mechanism during isometric pressing. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e94533. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0094533

This study investigated the effects of the finger extensor mechanism on the bone-to-bone contact forces at the interphalangeal and metacarpal joints and also on the forces in the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles during finger pressing. This was done w... Read More about Biomechanical analysis of the human finger extensor mechanism during isometric pressing.

Automated detection of instantaneous gait events using time frequency analysis and manifold embedding (2013)
Journal Article
using time frequency analysis and manifold embedding. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 21(6), 908-915. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2013.2239313

Accelerometry is a widely used sensing modality in human biomechanics due to its portability, non-invasiveness, and accuracy. However, difficulties lie in signal variability and interpretation in relation to biomechanical events. In walking, heel st... Read More about Automated detection of instantaneous gait events using time frequency analysis and manifold embedding.

The relationship between impairment, functional ability, hand-arm task complexity and set-up difficulty for an Advanced FES Rehab Tool (2013)
Presentation / Conference
Smith, C., Kenney, L., Howard, D., Waring, K., Sun, M., & Hardiker, N. (2013, April). The relationship between impairment, functional ability, hand-arm task complexity and set-up difficulty for an Advanced FES Rehab Tool. Poster presented at Fourth Conference of the UK and Ireland Chapter of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESSUKI), Southampton, UK

The use of hydrogel as an electrode-skin interface for electrode array FES applications (2011)
Journal Article
Cooper, G., Barker, A., Heller, B., Good, T., Kenney, L., & Howard, D. (2011). The use of hydrogel as an electrode-skin interface for electrode array FES applications. Medical Engineering and Physics, 33(8), 967-982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2011.03.008

Functional electrical stimulation is commonly used to restore function in post-stroke patients in upper and lower limb applications. Location of the electrodes can be a problem hence some research groups have begun to experiment with electrode arrays... Read More about The use of hydrogel as an electrode-skin interface for electrode array FES applications.

Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street (2011)
Journal Article
Thies, S., Kenney, L., Howard, D., Nester, C., Ormerod, M., Newton, R., …Maclennan, H. (2011). Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street. Journal of Biomechanics, 44(8), 1599-1604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.12.016

In light of our ageing population it is important that the urban environment is easily accessible and hence supports older adults’ independence. Tactile ‘blister’ paving was originally designed to provide guidance for visually impaired people at pede... Read More about Biomechanics for inclusive urban design : effects of tactile paving on older adults’ gait when crossing the street.

A generic analytical foot rollover model for predicting translational ankle kinematics in gait simulation studies (2010)
Journal Article
Ren, L., Howard, D., Ren, L., Nester, C., & Tian, L. (2010). A generic analytical foot rollover model for predicting translational ankle kinematics in gait simulation studies. Journal of Biomechanics, 43(2), 194-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.09.027

The objective of this paper is to develop an analytical framework to representing the ankle-foot kinematics by modelling the foot as a rollover rocker, which cannot only be used as a generic tool for general gait simulation but also allows for case-s... Read More about A generic analytical foot rollover model for predicting translational ankle kinematics in gait simulation studies.

Error in the description of foot kinematics due to violation of rigid body assumptions (2010)
Journal Article
Nester, C., Liu, A., Ward, E., Howard, D., Cocheba, J., & Derrick, T. (2010). Error in the description of foot kinematics due to violation of rigid body assumptions. Journal of Biomechanics, 43(4), 666-672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.10.027

Kinematic data from rigid segment foot models inevitably includes errors because the bones within each segment move relative to each other. This study sought to define error in foot kinematic data due to violation of the rigid segment assumption. The... Read More about Error in the description of foot kinematics due to violation of rigid body assumptions.

Inertial sensor-based knee flexion/extension angle estimation (2009)
Journal Article
Cooper, G., Sheret, I., McMillian, L., Siliverdis, K., Sha, N., Hodgins, D., …Howard, D. (2009). Inertial sensor-based knee flexion/extension angle estimation. Journal of Biomechanics, 42(16), 2678-2685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.08.004

A new method for estimating knee joint flexion/extension angles from segment acceleration and angular velocity data is described. The approach uses a combination of Kalman filters and biomechanical constraints based on anatomical knowledge. In contra... Read More about Inertial sensor-based knee flexion/extension angle estimation.

Movement variability in stroke patients and controls performing two upper limb functional tasks: a new assessment methodology (2009)
Journal Article
Thies, S., Tresadern, P., Kenney, L., Smith, J., Howard, D., Goulermas, J., …Rigby, J. (2009). Movement variability in stroke patients and controls performing two upper limb functional tasks: a new assessment methodology. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 6(2), https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-6-2

Background: In the evaluation of upper limb impairment post stroke there remains a gap between detailed kinematic analyses with expensive motion capturing systems and common clinical assessment tests. In particular, although many clinical tests evalu... Read More about Movement variability in stroke patients and controls performing two upper limb functional tasks: a new assessment methodology.

Simulating acceleration from stereophotogrammetry for medical device design (2009)
Journal Article
Tresadern, P., Thies, S., Kenney, L., Howard, D., Smith, C., Rigby, J., & Goulermas, J. (2009). Simulating acceleration from stereophotogrammetry for medical device design. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 131(6), https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3118771

When designing a medical device based on lightweight accelerometers, the designer is faced with a number of questions in order to maximize performance while minimizing cost and complexity: Where should the inertial unit be located? How many units ar... Read More about Simulating acceleration from stereophotogrammetry for medical device design.

Activity identification using body-mounted sensors — a review of classification techniques (2009)
Journal Article
Preece, S., Goulermas, J., Kenney, L., Howard, D., Meijer, K., & Crompton, R. (2009). Activity identification using body-mounted sensors — a review of classification techniques. Physiological Measurement, 30, R1-R33. https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/30/4/R01

With the advent of miniaturized sensing technology, which can be body-worn, it is nowpossible to collect and store data on different aspects of human movement under the conditions of free living. This technology has the potential to be used in automa... Read More about Activity identification using body-mounted sensors — a review of classification techniques.

The effect of the impedance of a thin hydrogel electrode on sensation during functional electrical stimulation (2008)
Journal Article
Sha, N., Kenney, L., Heller, B., Barker, A., Howard, D., & Wang, W. (2008). The effect of the impedance of a thin hydrogel electrode on sensation during functional electrical stimulation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2007.07.012

Surface functional electrical stimulation results in stimulation of cutaneous receptors and discomfort. The degree of non-uniformity of current distribution in the cutaneous layers in the vicinity of the electrode may influence the sensation experien... Read More about The effect of the impedance of a thin hydrogel electrode on sensation during functional electrical stimulation.

A finite element model to identify electrode influence on current distribution in the skin (2008)
Journal Article
Sha, N., Kenney, L., Heller, B., Barker, A., Howard, D., & Moatamedi, M. (2008). A finite element model to identify electrode influence on current distribution in the skin. Artificial Organs, 32(8), 639-643. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1594.2008.00615.x

Discomfort experienced during surface functional electrical stimulation (FES) is thought to be partly a result of localised high current density in the skin underneath the stimulating electrode. This paper describes a finite element (FE) model to pre... Read More about A finite element model to identify electrode influence on current distribution in the skin.

The influence of gluteus maximus on transverse plane tibial rotation (2008)
Journal Article
Preece, S., Graham-Smith, P., Nester, C., Howard, D., Hermens, H., Herrington, L., & Bowker, P. (2008). The influence of gluteus maximus on transverse plane tibial rotation. Gait & Posture, 27, 616-621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2007.08.007

There is a common clinical belief that transverse plane tibial rotation is controlled by the rearfoot. Although distal structures may influence the motion of the tibia, transverse plane tibial rotation could be determined by the proximal hip musculat... Read More about The influence of gluteus maximus on transverse plane tibial rotation.