An investigation into plantar pressure measurement protocols for footwear research (2014)
Journal Article
Melvin, J., Preece, S., Nester, C., & Howard, D. (2014). An investigation into plantar pressure measurement protocols for footwear research. Gait & Posture, 40(4), 682-687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.07.026

Many researchers investigate how footwear design affects plantar pressure (PP) and ask participants to walk in unfamiliar footwear as part of their studies. However, there are no clear guidelines for the required period of time or number of steps a... Read More about An investigation into plantar pressure measurement protocols for footwear research.

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
Prenton, S., Kenney, L., Stapleton, C., Cooper, G., Reeves, M., Heller, B., …Williamson, T. (2014). Feasibility study of a take-home array-based functional electrical stimulation system with automated setup for current functional electrical stimulation users with foot-drop. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 95(10), 1870-1877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2014.04.027

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.

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.

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

Stance phase mechanical characterization of transtibial prostheses distal to the socket : a review (2012)
Journal Article
Major, M., Kenney, L., Twiste, M., & Howard, D. (2012). Stance phase mechanical characterization of transtibial prostheses distal to the socket : a review. Journal of rehabilitation research and development, 49(6), 815-830. https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.06.0108

Achieving the required functionality of a trans-tibial prosthesis during the stance phase
of gait (e.g., shock absorption, close to normal roll-over characteristics, and smooth
transition into swing) depends on the “Amputee Independent Prosthesis P... Read More about Stance phase mechanical characterization of transtibial prostheses distal to the socket : a review.

The effects of transverse rotation angle on compression and effective lever arm of prosthetic feet during simulated stance (2012)
Journal Article
Major, M., Howard, D., Jones, R., & Twiste, M. (2012). The effects of transverse rotation angle on compression and effective lever arm of prosthetic feet during simulated stance. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 36(2), 231-235. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364611435996

Background and Aim: Unlike sagittal plane prosthesis alignment, few studies have observed the effects of transverse plane alignment on gait and prosthesis behaviour. Changes in transverse plane rotation angle will rotate the points of loading on the... Read More about The effects of transverse rotation angle on compression and effective lever arm of prosthetic feet during simulated stance.

Effects of ramp negotiation, paving type and shoe sole geometry on toe clearance in young adults (2011)
Journal Article
Thies, S., Jones, R., Kenney, L., Howard, D., & Baker, R. (2011). Effects of ramp negotiation, paving type and shoe sole geometry on toe clearance in young adults. Journal of Biomechanics, 44(15), 2679-2684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.07.027

Trips are a major cause of falls and result from involuntary contact of the foot with the ground during the swing phase of gait. Adequate toe clearance during swing is therefore crucial for safe locomotion. To date, little is known about the effects... Read More about Effects of ramp negotiation, paving type and shoe sole geometry on toe clearance in young adults.

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.

A comparative evaluation of sonomyography, electromyography, force, and wrist angle in a discrete tracking task (2011)
Journal Article
Guo, J., Zheng, Y., Kenney, L., Bowen, A., Howard, D., & Canderle, J. (2011). A comparative evaluation of sonomyography, electromyography, force, and wrist angle in a discrete tracking task. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 37(6), 884-891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2011.03.008

We have previously used the real-time change of muscle thickness detected using ultrasound, namely sonomyography (SMG), for prosthesis motor control purposes. In the present study, we further compared subjects’ performance using SMG and surface elect... Read More about A comparative evaluation of sonomyography, electromyography, force, and wrist angle in a discrete tracking task.

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.

Amputee independent prosthesis properties - a new model for description and measurement (2011)
Journal Article
Major, M., Twiste, M., Kenney, L., & Howard, D. (2011). Amputee independent prosthesis properties - a new model for description and measurement. Journal of Biomechanics, 44(14), 2572-2575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.07.016

A model is presented for describing the Amputee Independent Prosthesis Properties (AIPP) of complete assemblies of trans-tibial prosthetic components distal to the socket. This new AIPP model includes features of both lumped parameter and roll-over m... Read More about Amputee independent prosthesis properties - a new model for description and measurement.

The effect of body fat percentage on inter-vertebral spinal mobility control from hyper-extension spinal orthoses. (2010)
Presentation / Conference
Al-Qaroot, B., McAloon, M., Howard, D., Hogg, P., & Twiste, M. (2010, November). The effect of body fat percentage on inter-vertebral spinal mobility control from hyper-extension spinal orthoses. Presented at The UK National Member Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics, Newcastle, UK,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.