The Functional Biomechanics Research Group strives to solve clinically motivated questions on diseases and conditions of the musculoskeletal system and to translate results of laboratory studies into the clinic. The joints of the human body perform fascinatingly complex movement patterns which involve the perfect interplay of many different factors. The research group is on its way to understand this system better to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and trauma patients.

Members of the research group focus on three main fields of investigation. First, the research group aims to develop and optimize methods to understand the in vivo mechanosensitivity of musculoskeletal tissue​. The goal is to design interventions – mechanical or pharmaceutical – that prevent or delay the onset of osteoarthritis or slow down its rate of progression. Second, clinical questions relating to diagnostics, prevention and therapy of disease related gait and movement patterns are answered in multidisciplinary research teams of clinicians, movement scientists, engineers, and physiotherapists. Here, the research group combines novel portable IMU (Inertial Measurement Units) systems with camera based motion analysis and measurements of muscle activity, muscle strength and balance to identify the relevant factors of injury and disease mechanisms and the respective treatment. The third field of research is centred on innovation and product development within the field of functional biomechanics. Having established a long series of innovation together with members of the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology we now work on establishing protocols for based on different sensors for measuring shoulder translation in clinical practice, and test the biomechanical performance of novel orthopaedic implants in the living patient.

BFBL was formed in 2015 bringing together expertise in human biomechanics research and orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine. It is led by Prof. Dr. Annegret Mündermann and Dr. Corina Nüesch. BFBL is part of the Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland (Chairman Prof. Dr. med. Marcel Jakob) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Basel. It is located at Bettenhaus 3 of the University Hospital Basel, which uniquely facilitates bed side to bench to bed side research frameworks where scientists work hand in hand with clinicians and contribute to education in orthopaedics, sport science and physiotherapy. With more than 20 years of experience in functional biomechanics, members of the group have been delivering on the promise to generate scientifically founded knowledge to improve orthopaedic treatment and athletic performance.

For our current projects, we recruit

• participants with osteoarthritis at the knee or hip
• participants who have received a total knee or hip replacement
• participants scheduled to receive a corrective tibia or femur osteotomy
• persons with low back pain
• persons with rotator cuff tear
• healthy persons

Please contact Prof. Dr. Annegret Mündermann for details on current projects.