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Lower Extremity and Gait Studies (LEGS) Program

The Lower Extremity and Gait Studies (LEGS) Program encompasses research being carried out by academic staff within the School of Allied Health (primarily the disciplines of physiotherapy and podiatry) and our clinical partner, OrthoSports Victoria. The research being undertaken is into the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system and causes, prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disease, with a particular emphasis on lower extremity disorders and those affecting balance and gait. The purpose of LEGS research is to enhance performance and maintain mobility in people affected by sporting injuries and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. These research studies employ cutting-edge technologies (such as three-dimensional motion analysis and diagnostic imaging techniques) in conjunction with assessment procedures that could be easily transferred into the clinical environment. Researchers in the LEGS Program seek to (i) understand the prevalence, risk factors and impact of common lower extremity disorders affecting gait and mobility; (ii)  using state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, identify underlying physiological and biomechanical mechanisms responsible for these conditions, and (iii) conduct high quality clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of current and emerging treatments for these conditions.

Key research projects

Projects undertaken by LEGS researchers can be categorised under the broad headings of (i) foot and ankle disorders, (ii) knee orthopaedics, and (iii) gait, balance and falls. The foot and ankle projects seek to understand the epidemiology of foot disorders, the normal and abnormal biomechanics of the foot when walking, theeffect of footwear on foot health in older people, and the effectiveness of treatments for common foot disorders such as plantar heel pain, osteoarthritis, and diabetic foot ulcers. The knee orthopaedics projects are directed towards improving the clinical outcomes of knee replacement surgery and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The gait, balance and falls projects seek to understand the mechanisms underlying the increased risk of falling in older people and in clinical groups (such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to improve balance ad prevent falls.