The Motion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory (MAaBL) at ALYN Hospital is a clinically embedded research environment focused on understanding movement disorders in children and adolescents with neurological conditions. The laboratory provides a framework for linking detailed assessment of functional movement with the biomechanical and physiological mechanisms that underlie it.

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A central component of MAaBL’s work is the quantitative analysis of joint biomechanics, including kinematics and kinetics, during functional tasks such as walking. These measures allow objective characterization of how children move, how forces are generated and absorbed at the joints, and how mechanical demands are distributed across the musculoskeletal system. Joint-level biomechanics therefore serve as the starting point for identifying and interpreting pathological movement patterns.

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Building on this foundation, MAaBL integrates neuromuscular and musculoskeletal assessment to move beyond description of movement toward explanation. Surface electromyography is used to examine motor control strategies, whilst advanced ultrasound-based imaging enables in-vivo assessment of muscle–tendon unit behaviour during motion, as well as the influence of bony lever arms and skeletal deformities on functional performance. Together, these approaches help distinguish between different underlying contributors to similar movement presentations.

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In addition to assessment, MAaBL functions as a platform for treadmill-based evaluation and biofeedback-driven rehabilitation, allowing movement patterns to be studied and modified in real time within a controlled and repeatable setting. This enables close coupling between measurement, interpretation, and intervention.