Who are we?
The Motion Lab team is made up of people from different specialties that include physiotherapy, kinesiology, biomechanical engineering, and orthopedic surgery. We collaborate with other labs, surgeons, and biomedical companies to quantify human motion in order to measure the differences after interventions and surgery. By pushing the edge of innovation and knowledge, we can discover new solutions to support our pediatric population.
The Motion Lab opened in 1996 and sees approximately 250 children every year. Our lab is one of only three clinical facilities of its kind in Western Canada.
What do we do?
We use three-dimensional motion analysis equipment, similar to equipment used to make video games and animated movies, to help us quantify, understand, and resolve movement problems and patterns.
In addition to our clinical care, we are involved in several research projects with collaborators within and outside of BCCH. We share our findings through articles and conferences, and help educate the community through outreach programs.
Who do we see?
For our clinical care: Specialists refer children to the Motion Lab when they may require surgery, orthoses, or if they may need some other related kind of therapy. Most of the children that we see have cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or have sustained a traumatic brain injury, and may or may not use orthoses, crutches, or walkers.
For our research: Our research involves children and youth with a variety of conditions, including ACL injury, chronic pain, fibular hemimelia, crouch gait, clubfoot, limb length discrepancy, and more.
Minimum criteria
For our clinical care and research, children must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Minimum age is 5 years
- Must be able to cooperate for a minimum of 2 hours
- Must be capable of ambulation
For questions about referrals, please visit our clinical website below or call our lab at 604-453-8321
Learn more
To learn more about us, please visit our free online course: