28-05-2025
New Shriners tech will help young athletes safely return to sports following injuries
Shriners Children's Erie is advancing its understanding of orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions through cutting-edge motion analysis technology.
The Motion Analysis Center at Shriners Children's Erie utilizes Hollywood-style motion capture technology to track and analyze patients' movements in 3-D, providing biomechanical insights beyond what the human eye can see.
'It creates lines and then we're able to measure; it's all about angles,' said Sarah Steeb, a physical therapist at Shriners Children's Erie. 'The test itself doesn't clear a patient; it just assists with that clinical decision-making that the medical provider would then clear the patient,' Steeb explained.
The Motion Analysis Center, known as MAC, is one of 14 locations across the nation using advanced technology to support young athletes returning to sports safely after injury.
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Ava Bailey, a 17-year-old student athlete diagnosed with scoliosis, uses the MAC for 'return to sport testing,' which includes a physical exam and subjective history before executing skills like cutting, running, jumping, and shuffling.
'We do three trials each. It's kind of tedious; she has to hit certain spots on our force plates on the ground, but we have to make sure that line's perfect, and then we take that data and determine where she needs strengthening,' Steeb said.
Bailey, who is interested in a career in physical therapy, discovered through testing that her left leg might be weaker, which was previously unknown to her.
The staff at Shriners Children's Erie collaborates with other Shriners facilities and universities to share research in areas including mathematics and biomedical engineering.
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Scott Coughenour, a MAC engineer at Shriners Children's Erie, noted the collaboration with engineers in Philadelphia who help teach and pass on their years of experience.
With the help of the Motion Analysis Center, Shriners Children's Erie continues to provide innovative solutions for young athletes and patients, enhancing their recovery and return to sports.
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