Our research is focused on various aspects of human locomotion. We evaluate and develop mobility aids, seek ways to improve health and performance through exercise, and work on the development of new techniques to improve patient care. One of our NIH funded projects is to develop a new knee brace that allows knee motion during the swing phase of gait, but still provides knee stability when the leg is bearing weight. Our second NIH funded study is to determine the effects of aerobic exercise for patients with early osteoarthritis. Our goal is to determine if the Surgeon General's recommendation can be followed by patients with OA or if certain modifications to these recommendations are needed. Third, we are funded by NIH to design and develop a pressure microsensor that will measure muscle force. In addition to the patient care focus of our research, we also devote time to direct patient care. The aims of the clinical program are to understand the influence of altered neuromuscular function on movement, provide recommendations for clinical treatment, and perform outcome evaluations. Health professionals treating patients with neuromusculoskeletal disorders evaluate and treat the patient based on information gained from visual observation, physical examination, manual muscle testing, and testing that is often done in a stationary position, e.g., x-ray, CT, MRI, etc. However, these tests do not tell how a person is functioning. In contrast, we objectively measure dynamic functional impairments. This quantitative information can then be used as a basis for recommendation of a therapeutic intervention.