Musculo-skeletal development and function

This research group aims to improve the mobility, independence and quality of life for ambulant children with physical disabilities.

We do this by determining the biomechanical, anatomical and neurophysiological mechanisms that underpin the functional impairment and can cause falls, so that we can devise and test targeted treatments and diagnostic tools. 

At the centre of these efforts is our longstanding collaboration between LJMU and the Gait Laboratory and Orthopaedics Department (North West Movement Analysis Centre) of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Members of the clinical teams hold honorary research positions at the University. 

This approach is applied when working with children with a range of musculo-skeletal disorders, including cerebral palsy, idiopathic toe walking and developmental coordination disorder.

Our studies quantify the structure, neural control and functional properties of the musculoskeletal system, the involvement and utilisation of the sensory systems to guide movement, clinical gait analysis, and advanced data analytics.

These measurements provide a mechanistic foundation that we integrate with translational studies within children’s daily lives.

In these ways we work to understand the underlying causes and real-life effects of functional impairment and falls so that treatments can be targeted to improve independence, mobility and quality of life.

Our staff

  • Prof Tom O’Brien
  • Prof Costis Maganaris
  • Prof Bill Baltzopoulos
  • Prof Gabor Barton
  • Dr Rich Foster

Primary contact

  • Prof Tom O’Brien

Publication spotlights

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“I'd probably trip over it because it's bumpy”: a qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of ambulatory children with cerebral palsy walking in challenging environments

Talking the walk (along): lessons learned from engaging with children with cerebral palsy and their parents for investigating lived experiences of falls

Are challenging walking environments linked to falls or risk of falling in children with cerebral palsy? A systematic review

Comparison of Theia3D and the conventional gait model in typically developing children and adults in a clinical gait laboratory

Fall resistance training for children with developmental coordination disorder: a proof-of-principle study

Exploratory investigation of head stability in children with cerebral palsy and typically developing children during a targeted stepping task

Children who idiopathically toe walk

In vivo operating lengths of the gastrocnemius muscle during gait in children who idiopathically toe-walk

Stretching Interventions in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Whyre They Ineffective in Improving Muscle Function, and How Can We Better Their Outcome?

Resistance Training Combined With Stretching Increases Tendon Stiffness and Is More Effective Than Stretching Alone in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Relationship Between Medial Gastrocnemius Lengthening Properties and Stretch Reflexes in Cerebral Palsy

Optimal lighting levels for stair safety: Influence of lightbulb type and brightness on confidence, dynamic balance and stepping characteristics

Muscle and tendon lengthening behaviour of the medial gastrocnemius during ankle joint rotation in children with cerebral palsy

Medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness cannot explain the increased ankle joint range of motion following passive stretching in children with cerebral palsy

Achilles tendon moment arm length is smaller in children with cerebral palsy than in typically developing children

Explore the Biomechanics research group