Our research is driven by the interest in human movement, which is an important part of life, as it ensures physical mobility and thus interaction with the environment. Against this background, the aim of our research is to understand the functioning of human movement, i.e. the interplay between the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system, that enables coordinated movement behavior. Of particular interest to us is, how training protocols need to be structured and modern technologies (e.g. running shoes, orthoses or exoskeletons) need to be designed to improve this interplay and thus motor performance in everyday life and sport as well as in prevention and rehabilitation. Our research focuses on the following areas: (1) control and biomechanics of human movements; (2) effects of training on the control and biomechanics of human movements; (3) effects of technologies on the control and biomechanics of human movements; (4) performance diagnostics.
In the four research areas mentioned above we work as an interdisciplinary team that combines various strands of research from sports science, neuroscience, medicine, computer and engineering sciences with the practical sports experience of our team in the context of experimental studies. This is made possible by the different scientific disciplines (including sports science, computer and engineering sciences, mathematics and physics) that our team members have studied, as well as our practical experience as athletes and coaches in various sports.
At the IfSS we represent the natural sciences of sport (motor control, biomechanics, training science, sports informatics & engineering) and are anchored in the research structures of the KIT through our membership in the KIT centers “Information - Systems - Technologies” and “Health Technologies”.
Dr. Cagla Kettner has published a systematic review titled “The Effects of Shoe Sole Thickness on Running Biomechanics and Economy: A Systematic Review.”
To the articleWe warmly congratulate Hannah Steingrebe on successfully defending her dissertation!
Hannah Steingrebe has published an article titled “Effect of hip bracing on stair-walking biomechanics and pain in patients with mild-to-moderate hip osteoarthritis: an intervention study.”
Dr. Cagla Kettner has successfully secured a DFG postdoctoral fellowship under the Walter Benjamin Program – Congratulations!
The German Shooting Federation (DSB) is funding the BioMotion Center in 2026 to continue their successful collaboration in the field of performance diagnostics in Archery!
As part of the KIT-funded project “KARE database for comparing biomechanical sensor modalities for fall detection in everyday life” the BioMotion Center is collecting a dataset on fall detection in everyday life in close collaboration with the BioRobotics Lab.