Student Projects

This living list presents project opportunities at the Laboratory for Movement Biomechanics for both ETH students and external students. Please feel free to contact the relevant person directly for further information.

Location: ETH LMB

Location: External

SiROP

Balance on the Move: Improving Standing Stability and Confidence During Public Transport Use

Older adults often avoid trams and buses because of fear of falling when vehicles start, stop, or turn. This project develops and evaluates a task-specific, technology-based balance training approach to help older adults feel safer and more confident when standing in public transport.

Keywords

Balance training, fall prevention, older adults, public transport, standing stability, perturbation training, force plate, fear of falling, clinical biomechanics

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Semester Project , Internship , Bachelor Thesis , Master Thesis

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Published since: 2026-05-10 , Earliest start: 2026-05-15 , Latest end: 2027-05-15

Organization Movement Biomarkers Group

Hosts Ravi Deepak

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

A Multimodal Approach to Neurological Movement Assessment Using IMU-Based 3D Kinematics and Eye Tracking

MS patients experience deficits in visual and postural stability during locomotion. Yet visual exploration and gait patterns are rarely measured simultaneously. This project combines IMUs and state-of-the-art eye tracking to better understand movement and gaze behaviour in neurological patients.

Keywords

Python, IMUs, 3D kinematics, eye tracking, gait analysis, neurological patients, multiple sclerosis, movement analysis, data processing, clinical research

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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis

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Published since: 2026-05-10 , Earliest start: 2026-05-15 , Latest end: 2027-05-15

Organization Movement Biomarkers Group

Hosts Ravi Deepak

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

Identifying the causes of patellar instability

Patello-femoral joint (PFJ) instability is one of the most common knee problems in children and adolescents. In this project in collaboration with the University Children’s Hospital Basel, we aim to uncover the key factors contributing to PFJ instability and validate joint kinematics using a dynamic fluoroscope system.

Keywords

Patello-femoral joint instability, knee pain, joint kinematics, dynamic fluoroscope system

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Internship , Master Thesis

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Published since: 2026-05-06 , Earliest start: 2026-05-01 , Latest end: 2026-12-31

Applications limited to ETH Zurich , University of Zurich , University of Fribourg , University of Geneva , University of Berne , Berner Fachhochschule , Zurich University of Applied Sciences , University of Basel , University of St. Gallen , University of Lucerne , EPFL - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Université de Neuchâtel , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen , Ludwig Maximilians Universiy Munich , Max Planck Society , Technische Universität München , Technische Universität Hamburg , RWTH Aachen University , TU Dresden , TU Berlin , TU Darmstadt , Ulm University , University of Cologne , University of Hamburg , University of Konstanz , University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , Universtity of Bayreuth , Imperial College London , UCL - University College London , University of Cambridge , University of Aberdeen , National Institute for Medical Research , University of Manchester , University of Leeds , University of Nottingham , University of Oxford , Delft University of Technology , Maastricht Science Programme , Radboud University Nijmegen , CNRS - Centre national de la recherche scientifique , Harvard , IDEA League , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Politecnico di Milano , Princeton University , Stanford University , Technical University of Denmark , The Australian National University , The University of Edinburgh , University of Copenhagen , University of Toronto , University of Queensland , The University of Melbourne , Yale University , Uppsala Universitet , University College Dublin , Université de Strasbourg

Organization Neuromuscular Biomechanics

Hosts Gwerder Michelle

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

Unraveling the Link Between Meniscal Extrusion and Tibiofemoral Contact Stability: A Multi-Parametric Analysis of Dynamic Trajectories and Cumulative Compressive Burden

Meniscal extrusion is a critical precursor to knee osteoarthritis, yet its specific impact on dynamic contact stability remains poorly understood. This project utilizes high-precision dual-fluoroscopy to investigate the correlation between meniscal lateral displacement and tibial compartment contact mechanics. We propose a comprehensive evaluation framework combining kinematic stability metrics (e.g., Excursion, Instantaneous Jitter, Convex Hull Area) with a novel Cumulative Compressive Deformation (CCD) index. By quantifying how meniscal failure exacerbates contact wandering and cumulative stress, this study aims to identify early biomechanical markers of cartilage degeneration.

Keywords

Meniscal Extrusion; Contact Stability; Cumulative Compressive Deformation (CCD); Dual-Fluoroscopy; Osteoarthritis.

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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis

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1. Background & Clinical Significance: The meniscus plays a pivotal role in load transmission and joint stabilization. However, meniscal lateral displacement (extrusion) compromises its "hoop stress" function, potentially leading to altered tibiofemoral kinematics. While static measurements of extrusion are common, the dynamic consequences—specifically how extrusion affects the stability of the contact interface during functional activities—are not fully characterized. Instability in contact location ("wandering contact") combined with excessive compression is hypothesized to accelerate cartilage failure. 2. Methodological Approach: This study employs high-speed dual-plane fluoroscopy to reconstruct 6DOF in vivo knee kinematics. We focus on the medial and lateral tibial compartments to quantify the relationship between meniscal health and contact mechanics through two primary dimensions: A. Quantification of Contact Stability (The "Wandering" Effect) To capture the dynamic fluctuation of the contact centroid on the tibial plateau, we calculate: Excursion & Range: Decomposed into Anteroposterior (AP) Range, Mediolateral (ML) Range, and Total Path Length. Increased excursion indicates a failure of the joint to maintain a stable pivot point. Dispersion & Variability: Instantaneous Jitter: High-frequency fluctuations in contact location, representing a loss of fine neuromuscular or mechanical control. Convex Hull Area: The area of the smallest polygon enclosing the contact trajectory, representing the total "footprint" of instability. B. Cumulative Compressive Burden (The "Squeezing" Effect) Beyond location, we assess the severity of loading using the Cumulative Compressive Deformation (CCD). This time-integrated metric sums the magnitude and duration of cartilage compression (defined as dynamic JSW falling below a reference threshold, e.g., 2.5 mm) throughout the stance phase. 3. Hypothesized Mechanism: We posit that greater meniscal lateral displacement correlates with reduced contact stability (larger convex hull and path length) and higher CCD values. This "double hit" of unstable shear forces and sustained compressive squeezing creates a distinct mechanical pathway for osteoarthritis initiation in the affected compartments.

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Published since: 2026-05-05 , Earliest start: 2026-03-05 , Latest end: 2026-09-30

Organization Knee Joint Articular Contact Kinematics

Hosts Jiang Ziang

Topics Medical and Health Sciences

Biomechanical Efficacy of Orthotic Footwear Interventions in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multi-Modal Analysis of Static Loading and Dynamic Contact Mechanics

This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of three footwear conditions, including Control, Lateral Wedge Insoles (LWI), and Variable Stiffness Shoes (VSS), on the medial tibiofemoral compartment. By integrating high-speed dual-fluoroscopy with force plate kinetics, we analyze joint mechanics across static (unloaded vs. loaded) and dynamic states (gait cycle). Specifically, we investigate whether reductions in the external Knee Adduction Moment (KAM) at 1st and 2nd peaks translate into tangible improvements in internal contact patterns, such as medial Joint Space Width (JSW) recovery and contact location shifts. This project aims to cross-validate kinetic surrogates with in vivo kinematic ground truth to determine the optimal intervention strategy.

Keywords

Knee Osteoarthritis; Conservative Treatment; Kinetics; Dual-Fluoroscopy; Joint Space Width (JSW); Contact Location.

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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis

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1. Background & Rationale Conservative interventions like Lateral Wedge Insoles (LWI) and Variable Stiffness Shoes (VSS) are designed to unload the medial knee compartment. However, clinical efficacy is often inferred solely from the external Knee Adduction Moment (KAM). It remains unclear whether reductions in KAM strictly correspond to favorable changes in the internal mechanical environment (e.g., increased JSW or beneficial shifts in contact location). This study bridges the gap between external kinetics and internal in vivo kinematics. 2. Experimental Conditions Subjects will undergo testing under three randomized conditions: Control: Standard neutral footwear. LWI: Footwear with a lateral wedge (e.g., 5-degree inclination). VSS: Footwear with variable stiffness soles designed to alter the center of pressure. 3. Analysis Framework The assessment is divided into two distinct phases to capture the full spectrum of mechanical response: A. Static Load Response (The "Stiffness" Check) We compare joint configurations between Non-Weight Bearing (NWB) and Full Weight Bearing (FWB) standing postures. Objective: To quantify the immediate deformation of cartilage and meniscus under static load across different shoes. Metrics: Change in static JSW and static contact centroid position. B. Dynamic Gait Analysis (The "Functional" Check) We focus on two critical events during the stance phase of gait: 1st Peak KAM (Early Stance): Maximum loading acceptance. 2nd Peak KAM (Late Stance): Propulsion phase. Objective: To capture the instantaneous contact patterns at moments of peak external load. 4. Mechanistic Validation & Outcome Measures A key innovation of this project is the cross-validation of data sources: Internal Kinematics (Dual-Fluoro): Contact Location: Does the centroid shift laterally (away from the worn medial area)? Dynamic JSW: Is the minimum joint clearance preserved? Contact Trajectory: Does the path length shorten (indicating better stability)? External Kinetics (Force Plates): KAM Reduction: Percentage decrease in peak moments. Correlation: We will determine if ΔKAM significantly correlates with ΔJSW and ΔContactLocation. This verifies if KAM is a reliable proxy for internal joint unloading in these specific footwear designs.

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Published since: 2026-05-05 , Earliest start: 2026-03-05 , Latest end: 2026-09-30

Organization Knee Joint Articular Contact Kinematics

Hosts Jiang Ziang

Topics Medical and Health Sciences

From Skin to Bone: Validating a Skin-Marker Based 6DOF Knee Motion Capture Pipeline Using Biplanar Video-Radiography

Skin marker-based motion capture is widely used to measure knee kinematics during gait, but soft-tissue artefacts limit its accuracy. This project validates MiKneeSoTA, a pipeline minimising these artefacts, against ground-truth bone motion from dynamic biplanar video-radiography. The REFRAME approach is additionally implemented to reconcile the two systems' reference frames. Together, these steps assess the viability of a fully marker-based 6DOF tibiofemoral kinematics pipeline.

Keywords

gait analysis; joint kinematics, knee; motion capture

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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis

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**Type:** Master's Thesis or Research Internship **Background & Motivation** Accurate measurement of tibiofemoral joint kinematics during gait is essential for understanding healthy movement and informing clinical decision-making. Skin marker-based optical motion capture is widely used but subject to considerable soft-tissue artefact, which can substantially distort estimated bone motion. Validating marker-based methods against ground-truth bone motion is therefore critical. **Project Description** This project involves two interconnected objectives: 1 - Validation of MiKneeSoTA MiKneeSoTA (Minimise Knee Soft-Tissue Artefacts) is a pipeline for estimating tibiofemoral joint kinematics from optical skin markers, combining an augmented marker set with a cylinder-based biomechanical model and frame-by-frame optimisation to minimise non-rigid segment deformations [Einfeldt et al., 2024: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71409-z; Ortigas-Vásquez et al., 2025: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1530365]. This project will validate the method's accuracy by comparing its kinematic outputs against ground-truth bone motion obtained from dynamic biplanar video-radiography, which tracks bone positions with high spatial precision during movement. 2 - Implementation and validation of REFRAME REFRAME (REference FRame Alignment MEthod) is a computational approach for aligning local segment reference frames across, e.g., measurement systems [Ortigas-Vásquez et al., Part I: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86137-1; Part II: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76275-3]. It will be implemented here to reconcile the coordinate systems of the video-radiography and optical motion capture setups. The proposed frame transformations will then be validated against reference frame differences measured directly in a common global space. **Data** This project will leverage existing data from healthy participants, including simultaneous dynamic biplanar video-radiography and optical skin marker motion capture recordings during level walking. Students may be required to support with manual image registration as part of their projects, but the focus will be on data analysis and processing. **Your Profile** - Master's student with a background in Biomechanics, Human Movement Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, etc. - Interest in gait analysis - Basic programming experience in MATLAB would be highly beneficial - Familiarity with rigid body kinematics is an advantage

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Published since: 2026-04-20 , Earliest start: 2026-05-18

Organization Clinical Movement Biomechanics

Hosts Ortigas Vasquez Ariana

Topics Medical and Health Sciences , Engineering and Technology

Biomechanical Investigation into the Loading-Response Mechanisms and Factors Underlying Non-Response to Variable Stiffness Shoes in Knee Osteoarthritis

Lateral Wedge Insoles (LWI) are a common intervention for medial Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) but suffer from a high non-response rate (25-50%) and potential ankle instability risks. Variable Stiffness Shoes (VSS) offer a novel approach by inducing dynamic Center of Pressure (COP) shifts via gradient sole modulus. However, the internal joint mechanisms determining patient responsiveness to VSS remain unclear. This study utilizes high-precision dual-fluoroscopy combined with motion capture to investigate the root causes of "non-response," hypothesizing that subtalar joint stiffness and Foot Progression Angle (FPA) mismatch are critical limiting factors. We aim to quantify the dynamic minimum Joint Space Width (mJSW) recovery and compare the ankle safety profile of VSS against LWI, providing a theoretical basis for personalized orthotic design.

Keywords

Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA); Variable Stiffness Shoes (VSS); Lateral Wedge Insole (LWI); Non-responder; Subtalar Joint Stiffness; Dual-Fluoroscopy; Dynamic Joint Space Width (mJSW); Foot Progression Angle (FPA); Ankle Stability.

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Semester Project , Internship , Master Thesis

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1. Background & Motivation Medial compartment Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a leading cause of disability. While Lateral Wedge Insoles (LWI) are widely prescribed to reduce the Knee Adduction Moment (KAM) by shifting the Center of Pressure (COP) laterally, clinical efficacy is inconsistent, with 25-50% of patients classified as "non-responders." Emerging evidence suggests this failure may stem from the foot-ankle complex's biomechanical characteristics—specifically subtalar joint stiffness or inadequate foot eversion compensation—which prevent the effective lateralization of the COP. Variable Stiffness Shoes (VSS) utilize a material gradient to induce COP shifts, theoretically requiring less subtalar kinematic compensation than geometric wedges. However, non-response remains a challenge, and conventional gait analysis lacks the precision to observe internal knee contact mechanics or decouple the interference of foot stiffness and progression angles on force transmission. Furthermore, while LWI reduces knee load, it often causes "Moment Redistribution," increasing ankle eversion moments and the risk of instability. It remains unknown whether VSS can mitigate these adverse effects. 2. Research Hypotheses Mechanism of Non-Response: The failure of VSS intervention is primarily attributed to excessive stiffness in the patient's subtalar joint/foot-ankle complex, restricting lateral COP displacement. Additionally, a spatial mismatch between the patient's Foot Progression Angle (FPA) (e.g., excessive toe-out) and the pre-set stiffness gradient zone negates the unloading effect. Safety & Stability: Compared to LWI, VSS will achieve KAM reduction with a significantly smaller increase in ankle eversion moment and will demonstrate superior gait stability (e.g., Margin of Stability) comparable to neutral shoes. 3. Methods 3.1 Participants: 15 patients with medial KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades I-IV) will be recruited. Exclusion criteria include prior lower limb surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, or neurological disorders. All subjects will undergo MRI for 3D bone modeling. 3.2 Intervention Design: VSS: 3D-printed soles with a 1:6 medial-to-lateral stiffness ratio, defined by the lateral 95% confidence interval of COP trajectories from a 600-person dataset, featuring a rocker sole. LWI: Standard 5° full-length lateral wedge. Control: Neutral flat shoes with identical upper design. 3.3 Data Acquisition (Multi-Modal): Dynamic Dual-Fluoroscopy: Captures internal knee motion during treadmill gait. Optical Motion Capture: Records whole-body kinematics via reflective markers. Kinetics: Force plates measure Ground Reaction Forces (GRF), while in-shoe pressure sensors (e.g., Pedar/Tekscan) record high-resolution COP trajectories. 3.4 Data Processing & Analysis: 6-DOF Knee Kinematics: 2D-3D registration of MRI models to fluoroscopic images will reconstruct in vivo stance phase motion. The primary outcome for "response" is the increase in Dynamic Minimum Joint Space Width (mJSW) and shifts in Contact Excursion. Foot-Ankle Biomechanics: Analysis of subtalar joint Range of Motion (ROM) and the spatial alignment between FPA and the VSS stiffness boundary. Stability Assessment: Calculation of Peak Ankle Eversion Moment, Margin of Stability (MoS), and COM-COP lateral separation to assess fall risk. 3.5 Statistical Analysis: Repeated Measures ANOVA will compare biomechanical parameters across conditions. Pearson correlation will examine relationships between foot flexibility/FPA and the magnitude of knee unloading (ΔmJSW). 4. Expected Outcomes & Innovation Precision Mechanism Resolution: The first study to use dual-fluoroscopy to validate VSS efficacy based on millimeter-level changes in dynamic joint space (mJSW), overcoming the limitations of external kinetic surrogates (KAM). Deciphering "Non-Response": Elucidating how ankle stiffness and gait strategy (e.g., Toe-out) interfere with VSS mechanics, providing data to support future "zone-specific" stiffness customization. Safety Validation: Establishing the clinical advantage of VSS in preserving ankle stability compared to traditional wedges, promoting its translation as a superior conservative therapy.

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Published since: 2026-03-05 , Earliest start: 2026-03-05 , Latest end: 2026-09-30

Organization Knee Joint Articular Contact Kinematics

Hosts Jiang Ziang

Topics Medical and Health Sciences

Praktikum in Sport & Exercise Biomechanics (OYM, Cham)

Im Bereich Sport & Exercise Biomechanics suchen wir Unterstützung bei der Durchführung und Auswertung von wissenschaftlichen Messungen im Bewegungsanaly-selabor (Motion Capture und Kraftmessplatten).

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Published since: 2026-02-27 , Earliest start: 2026-04-01 , Latest end: 2026-12-31

Organization Taylor Group / Laboratory for Movement Biomechanics

Hosts Zemp Roland, Dr.

Topics Medical and Health Sciences