INTRODUCTION

The movements we have chosen to study are of a human subject ascending and descending a staircase. We are specifically looking at the joint angles of the hip and knee in order to explore variations in the range of motion between the two different movements. Stairclimbing, an activity of daily living, is of importance due to its application in rehabilitation.

We plan to answer this movement question by video taping a subject in the sagittal plane with joint markers encompassing the trunk and lower limb. We hope that our findings from an able-bodied subject will help us identify a norm for stairclimbing range of motion. By comparing the performances of patients to this model of proper function, therapists can identify the limitations of patients and can work towards helping them improve range of motion and restore normal function.