Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Prof David Howard's Outputs (79)

Crowd-sourced amputee gait data : a feasibility study using YouTube videos of unilateral trans-femoral gait (2016)
Journal Article

Collecting large datasets of amputee gait data is notoriously difficult. Additionally, collecting data on less prevalent amputations or on gait activities other than level walking and running on hard surfaces is rarely attempted. However, with the we... Read More about Crowd-sourced amputee gait data : a feasibility study using YouTube videos of unilateral trans-femoral gait.

A review of the design and clinical evaluation of the ShefStim array-based functional electrical stimulation system (2016)
Journal Article

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.

Dealing with time-varying recruitment and length in Hill-type muscle models (2016)
Journal Article
Hamouda, A., Kenney, L., & Howard, D. (2016). Dealing with time-varying recruitment and length in Hill-type muscle models. Journal of Biomechanics, 49(14), 3375-3380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.08.030

Hill-type muscle models are often used in muscle simulation studies and also in the design
and virtual prototyping of functional electrical stimulation systems. These models have to
behave in a sufficiently realistic manner when recruitment level a... Read More about Dealing with time-varying recruitment and length in Hill-type muscle models.

A fast inverse dynamics model of walking for use in optimisation studies (2016)
Journal Article
Salehi, S., Ren, L., & Howard, D. (2016). A fast inverse dynamics model of walking for use in optimisation studies. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 19(11), 1201-1209. https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2015.1124267

Computer simulation of human gait, based on measured motion data, is a well-established technique in biomechanics. However, optimisation studies requiring many iterative gait cycle simulations have not yet found widespread application because of thei... Read More about A fast inverse dynamics model of walking for use in optimisation studies.

Transtibial amputee gait efficiency : energy storage and return versus solid ankle cushioned heel prosthetic feet (2016)
Journal Article

Energy storage and return (ESR) feet have long been assumed to promote metabolically efficient amputee gait. However, despite being prescribed for approximately thirty years, there is limited evidence that they achieve this desired function. Here, we... Read More about Transtibial amputee gait efficiency : energy storage and return versus solid ankle cushioned heel prosthetic feet.

A device for characterising the mechanical properties of the plantar soft tissue of the foot (2015)
Journal Article
Parker, D., Cooper, G., Pearson, S., Crofts, G., Howard, D., Busby, P., & Nester, C. (2015). A device for characterising the mechanical properties of the plantar soft tissue of the foot. Medical Engineering and Physics, 37(11), 1098-1104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2015.08.008

The plantar soft tissue is a highly functional viscoelastic structure involved in transferring load to the human body during walking. A Soft Tissue Response Imaging Device was developed to apply a vertical compression to the plantar soft tissue whils... Read More about A device for characterising the mechanical properties of the plantar soft tissue of the foot.

A forward dynamic modelling investigation of cause-and-effect relationships in single support phase of human walking (2015)
Journal Article
McGrath, M., Howard, D., & Baker, R. (2015). A forward dynamic modelling investigation of cause-and-effect relationships in single support phase of human walking. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2015, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/383705

Mathematical gait models often fall into one of two categories: simple and complex. There is a large leap in complexity between model types, meaning the effects of individual gait mechanisms get overlooked. This study investigated the cause-and-effec... Read More about A forward dynamic modelling investigation of cause-and-effect relationships in single support phase of human walking.

The strengths and weaknesses of inverted pendulum models of human walking (2014)
Journal Article
McGrath, M., Howard, D., & Baker, R. (2015). The strengths and weaknesses of inverted pendulum models of human walking. Gait & Posture, 41(2), 389-394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.10.023

An investigation into the kinematic and kinetic predictions of two ‘inverted pendulum’ (IP) models of
gait was undertaken. The first model consisted of a single leg, with anthropometrically correct mass and
moment of inertia, and a point mass at th... Read More about The strengths and weaknesses of inverted pendulum models of human walking.

The use of an adjustable electrode housing unit to compare electrode alignment and contact variation with myoelectric prosthesis functionality: A pilot study (2014)
Journal Article
and contact variation with myoelectric prosthesis functionality: A pilot study. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 40(1), 123-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364614545417

Background: Usable myoelectric control relies on secure and intimate contact at all times between the electrode, the socket and the residual limb. At present, there is little post-fitting socket adjustment available to prosthetists with respect to el... Read More about The use of an adjustable electrode housing unit to compare electrode alignment and contact variation with myoelectric prosthesis functionality: A pilot study.

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.

Feasibility study of a take-home array-based functional electrical stimulation system with automated setup for current functional electrical stimulation users with foot-drop (2014)
Journal Article

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of unsupervised community use of an array-based automated setup functional electrical stimulator for current foot-drop functional electrical stimulation (FES) users.

Design

Feasibility study.

S... Read More about Feasibility study of a take-home array-based functional electrical stimulation system with automated setup for current functional electrical stimulation users with foot-drop.

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.

A systematic procedure to optimise dose and image quality for the measurement of inter-vertebral angles from lateral spinal projections using Cobb and superimposition methods (2014)
Journal Article
Al Qaroot, B., Hogg, P., Twiste, M., & Howard, D. (2014). A systematic procedure to optimise dose and image quality for the measurement of inter-vertebral angles from lateral spinal projections using Cobb and superimposition methods. Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology, 22(5), 613-625. https://doi.org/10.3233/XST-140449

BACKGROUND: Patients with vertebral column deformations are exposed to high risks associated with ionising radiation exposure. Risks are further increased due to the serial X-ray images that are needed to measure and asses their spinal deformation us... Read More about A systematic procedure to optimise dose and image quality for the measurement of inter-vertebral angles from lateral spinal projections using Cobb and superimposition methods.

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 effects of prosthetic ankle stiffness on ankle and knee kinematics, prosthetic limb loading, and net metabolic cost of trans-tibial amputee gait (2013)
Journal Article
Major, M., Twiste, M., Kenney, L., & Howard, D. (2014). The effects of prosthetic ankle stiffness on ankle and knee kinematics, prosthetic limb loading, and net metabolic cost of trans-tibial amputee gait. Clinical Biomechanics, 29(1), 98-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2013.10.012

Background
Previous studies of commercially-available trans-tibial prosthetic components have been unable to provide clear insight into the relationships between prosthetic mechanical properties and user performance (i.e., gait quality and energy ex... Read More about The effects of prosthetic ankle stiffness on ankle and knee kinematics, prosthetic limb loading, and net metabolic cost of trans-tibial amputee gait.

Automatic detection of lift-off and touch-down of a pick-up walker using 3D kinematics (2013)
Journal Article
Grootveld, L., Thies, S., Ogden, D., Howard, D., & Kenney, L. (2014). Automatic detection of lift-off and touch-down of a pick-up walker using 3D kinematics. Medical Engineering and Physics, 36(2), 255-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medengphy.2013.08.008

Walking aids have been associated with falls and it is believed that incorrect use limits their usefulness. Measures are therefore needed that characterize their stable use and the classification of key events in walking aid movement is the first ste... Read More about Automatic detection of lift-off and touch-down of a pick-up walker using 3D kinematics.