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What is human motion analysis? \u201cThink of a room fitted with cameras around the perimeter,\u201d explained Rammer, now an assistant professor of biomedical engineering. \u201cWe place reflective markers on the patient\u2019s body, and a computer translates their movement into precise data that shows us how they walk or move.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What began as a low-cost lab experiment has a service record of 4,000 patients. Today, the collaboration also includes research, offering Rammer\u2019s lab a rare opportunity to study diverse, often underrepresented conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What engineering researchers offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost of our patients have cerebral palsy, a disease that can vary significantly from child to child,\u201d Rammer said. \u201cThis kind of technology really helps clinicians figure out what\u2019s working, and what\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exacting data the lab provides is vital for pediatric patients, especially those going into or recovering from surgery. Many use braces, orthotics, or wheelchairs and it\u2019s crucial for doctors to know how they\u2019re progressing after they go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter surgery, parents naturally want to be protective,\u201d Rammer said. \u201cBut for bones to heal and grow properly, kids need physical stress. The challenge is striking a balance \u2013 encouraging safe activity without putting them at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help maintain that balance, Rammer and his students developed a smartphone app that tracks patients\u2019 movement and activity levels. It allows clinicians to stay connected between visits \u2013 and gives them insight into how recovery is going at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Milwaukee to Manila: student involvement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe app supports comprehensive gait analysis and collects daily movement data \u2013 offering a fuller picture of long-term mobility during rehabilitation. Eventually, Rammer hopes to automate the system using AI, giving doctors a dashboard view of any issues in real time.
\u201cRight now, we\u2019re pulling the data manually and recording it on Excel sheets,\u201d he said. \u201cBut soon, clinicians could get immediate updates and alerts about mobility problems without having to dig through files.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rammer hasn\u2019t yet taken students with him to the Philippines (though a study abroad course is in the works). Still, they\u2019re deeply involved. Undergraduate students in his lab help process the data and learn how to draw conclusions. They’re also collaborating with master\u2019s students in bioinformatics to develop the app\u2019s backend and data tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And because the work often requires custom solutions, students are involved in building both software and physical devices. \u201cEvery research project leads us to invent something \u2013 whether it\u2019s a tool, a sensor, or a program,\u201d he said<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Rammer, the partnership fills a major research gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMilwaukee isn\u2019t a huge city, and it\u2019s really difficult to find large patient populations with the specific conditions I study,\u201d he said. \u201cBut in Manila, I have access to every child with brittle bone disease in a country of more than 100 million people. It\u2019s a truly unique opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight now, we\u2019re pulling the data manually and recording it on Excel sheets,\u201d he said. \u201cBut soon, clinicians could get immediate updates and alerts about mobility problems without having to dig through files.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n