UFRGS and Biomechanical Research
An Excellence in Human Movement
The Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) is an educational institution with over a century of history, recognized internationally. Located in Porto Alegre, the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, it is one of the top universities in South America, offering academic programs across all fields of knowledge and attracting over 30,000 students daily.
Within UFRGS is a center of excellence for the study of movement. Here, the BIOMEC – Grupo de Investigação da Mecânica do Movimento operates, a biomechanics research laboratory dedicated to the analysis and modeling of human movement.
The goal of BIOMEC is to gain an in-depth understanding of human body mechanics to enhance sports performance and rehabilitation processes. The approach combines multiple disciplines, such as physical education, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, dance, music and engineering, to provide a comprehensive analysis based on objective data.
By leveraging advanced technologies, the laboratory accurately measures forces and body movements, enabling specialists to tailor training and therapy programs with a high degree of personalization.
BTS technologies have had a significant impact on BIOMEC’s research activities. Since the laboratory acquired these instruments, data collection and analysis processes have become faster and more precise, allowing for the study of more complex human movements.
The main research areas include:
- Postural Assessment: Static and dynamic posture analysis to identify and correct misalignments. Research focuses on postural epidemiology, validation of assessment protocols, and the development of education and re-education programs for posture correction.
- Biomechanical Assessment of Human Movement: Quantitative analysis of forces and loads acting on the human body during various activities and movements. The goal is to understand the biomechanical effects on musculoskeletal structures.
“I have been working with medical equipment for over 20 years, and I know that any system can have issues. But what really makes the difference is the quality of technical support, and BTS’s is flawless: timely, effective, and always available when needed“
BTS technologies are a fundamental component of UFRGS’s research activities. In the 1990s, the university’s biomechanics laboratory used instruments from various companies, which were often imprecise and difficult to manage together.
In 2015, the decision to adopt a complete BTS system marked a true turning point, significantly simplifying the workflow. With BTS, the laboratory could rely on a single integrated system and unified technical support for all equipment, enhancing both the efficiency and accuracy of its research.
