The materials testing lab is equipped with a universal testing machine which is designed for tensile, compression and flex testing as well as shear and torsion tests on a wide range of materials. We also have versatile cyclic testing machines, designed to repeatedly stress materials over varying lengths of time such as the number of steps taken wearing a particular shoe to test for long-term durability. This has been particularly useful in testing new materials for lower-limb orthotics. New medical equipment has been designed within our research labs where students can design new equipment on state-of-the-art CAD software and simulate function and use before 3D printing the component parts. 

This facility is part of the Motion & Gait Analysis Labs. 

The sports lab is 32 meters long and allows us to focus specifically on sports-related biomechanical research and assessment. Like the gait lab, it is a fully equipped 3D motion capture lab allowing for the analysis of walking, running, exercising and many other sporting activities that require running at speed over a longer distance.

We have a fully equipped gym and a range of sports simulators allowing for detailed analysis of sporting activities within a controlled laboratory environment. Linked with our state-of-the-art motion analysis and metabolic instruments we can analyse athletic performance, rehabilitation regimes and investigate injury prevention for a wide range of sports. Many will be surprised to know that we also have a purpose-built climbing wall.

There is also a markerless motion analysis system which collects data from athletes on the court or in the field out with the laboratory setting. IMU sensors capture and measure real-time load activity data. These sensors are waterproof, making them suitable for all-weather capture including swimming.

This facility is part of the Motion & Gait Analysis Labs. 

The gait analysis lab is a purpose-built space providing ample space for walking. The fifteen 3D motion capture cameras combined with four force plates and synchronised video provide detailed information on how people move. A 16-channel wireless electromyographic system adds muscle activity information, an important tool in the management of patients with lower limb diseases or injuries and children with cerebral palsy. We also analyse the walking patterns of stroke patients and those suffering from other neurological conditions.

The lab has a raised central roof which allows us to study activities such as golf swings, jumping from a height, volleyball striking and stair climbing. There is also a ramp with an adjustable height angle allowing us to study mountain hiking, skiing and any other sports conducted on slopes. We can also measure very small movements, such as the hand and fingers or the foot.

This facility is part of the Motion & Gait Analysis Labs.