MedStar Health Innovation in Motion Laboratory (iMo Lab) | MedStar Health

State-of-the-art research lab aimed at advancing human motion analysis and musculoskeletal care

An athletic man walks on a treadmill in the Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation Center at MedStar Health Union Memorial Hospital.

As one of the labs in the MedStar Health Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation Center, the Innovation in Motion Laboratory (iMo Lab) opened in 2025 with the goal of advancing the science of understanding human motion and rehabilitation care. Using sophisticated techniques and equipment, clinician-investigators quantify human movement patterns, creating new knowledge on sports injuries, movement disorders, and neurological conditions that can guide healthcare providers to develop new and tailored treatments for patients.

The 2,700 square-foot lab is home to the latest technology in gait and balance analysis, motion capture, and force platforms. It is available for scientists and clinician-investigators who are interested in advancing new methods and treatment protocols for the characterization, augmentation, and restoration of motor functions.

Research goals

The iMo Lab is home to research activities cross multiple disciplines, including engineering, kinesiology, and medicine, strongly emphasizing biomechanics, robotics, rehabilitation, athletic training, and neuroscience. The goal of this work is to create new knowledge aimed at:

  • Understanding the neural and biomechanical basis of balance and locomotion
  • Developing low-cost screening tests and diagnostic tools for movement disorder
  • Developing solutions to improve the ability to move freely

Scientific leadership 

Dario Martelli

Dario Martelli, PhD, senior research scientist for orthopedics and sports medicine research and director, Innovation in Motion Laboratory.

iMo Lab technology

  • GRAIL

    An athletic man walks on a treadmill in the Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation Center at MedStar Health Union Memorial Hospital.The Gait Real-time Interactive Laboratory is a total package solution for gait analysis and balance training. It can systematically control the physical, visual, and audio environments while motion is recorded. It integrates a 2DOF motion base, a split-belt treadmill, an immersive virtual reality environment, a belt projector, two 3D force platforms, a 3D motion capture system, and control software.

  • Delsys Trigno EMG sensors

    A 16-channel system that measures and wirelessly transmits surface electromyography signals. The system is capable of streaming data digitally into EMGworks®, third-party software, or via analog outputs for integration with motion capture and other third-party data acquisition systems.

  • Xsens MVN Awinda

    Motion capture system with 17 wireless inertial sensors fitted on the body with adjustable straps. It supports fast, easy, and reliable motion capture and it can be used in a wide variety of applications, including workplace ergonomics, rehabilitation and injury prevention, animation, entertainment, biomechanical science, and human factor research. It allows for real-time visualization of full body kinematic data – e.g., joint angles, segment orientations, center of mass and joint centers position.

  • Vicon Motion Capture System

    Includes 12-Camera Vero system and Nexus Software. Vicon is the global leader in optical motion capture hardware and software. Vero cameras have 2.2 Megapixel optical camera at 330 Hz featuring submillimeter precision.

  • Solo-Step Overhead Track

    An athletic man walks on a treadmill in the Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation Center at MedStar Health Union Memorial Hospital.

    A Solo-step fall protection track is used to ensure safety while performing overground gait analysis. Users wear a harness which attaches to a 360-degree swivel lanyard that connects to a high-performance trolley. The trolley inserts into a heavy-duty 15’ by 22’ oval track allowing patients to move around the room.

  • HTC Virtual Reality Kit

    Includes a virtual reality headset, four base stations, four controllers, wireless adapter, and three wearable trackers. High-end professional-oriented VR headset features a resolution of 1440 x 1600 per eye, refresh rate of 120 Hz, field of view of 100 degrees, up to 10m by 10m working area using precision tracking with laser base stations. The wireless adapter allows moving around the room without being connected with cables. VR platforms developed in Unity 3D are aimed at investigating modifications and adaptations of spatiotemporal gait parameters and cognitive performance during overground walking, navigation, dual motor tasks, visual feedback, and visual perturbations.

  • Bertec Force Platforms

    An athletic man walks on a treadmill in the Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation Center at MedStar Health Union Memorial Hospital.Two portable and two fixed Bertec multi-axis force platforms are used for quantifying human gait and balance. High levels of accuracy for measuring Center of Pressure, forces and moments, as well as dramatic reductions in crosstalk.

  • Humac Norm Isokinetic Dynamometer

    A HUMAC NORM isokinetic dynamometer is used to measure joint torque while controlling the speed of the movement. It can provide peak torque, angle-specific torque, and work. It offers 22 isolated-joint movement patterns and four resistance modes (isokinetic, isotonic, isometric, and passive).

Support the iMo Lab

We are grateful for our philanthropic partners who have helped make this state-of-the-art space a reality. Learn how your support can help MedStar Health advance the science of rehabilitation care here.

Contact us

To explore research opportunities or learn more about the Innovation in Motion Laboratory, contact Dario Martelli PhD, director, at dario.martelli@medstar.net.