The Bone and Joint Research Laboratory was established by Dr. Heidi-Lynn to develop biomechanical solutions for the prevention, care and treatment of diseased or injured systems. Both experimental and computational methods are applied to investigate the human subject over a wide range of scales from musculoskeletal biomechanics down to bone microstructures.
The research goal of the Bone and Joint Research Laboratory is to understand the human musculo-skeletal system better, in order to aid the development of biomechanical and safe solutions for the prevention, care and treatment of diseased or injured systems. Dr. Ploeg’s research applies both experimental and computational methods to investigate the human subject over a wide range of scales from musculoskeletal biomechanics down to bone microstructures. The creation of advanced prevention and treatment strategies requires an understanding of their effects on the tissue structures of the body. Biomechanical models that replicate the physical and physiological behavior of tissue structures are an enabling technology for assessing this interaction.