01
Spine & neuromuscular control
How do sensory feedback, fatigue and pain influence the way we control the trunk? We investigate muscle activation and movement strategies to better understand spine function.
Spine Biomechanics & Neuromuscular Control Laboratory
Understanding movement.
Improving lives.
We study how the spine moves, how muscles are controlled, and how technology can make human movement assessment more accessible.
01 / Our research
From muscle signals
to everyday movement.
We bring biomechanics, neurophysiology and data science together to understand movement in the lab and beyond.
02
Accessible movement assessment
We develop and evaluate wearable sensors and video-based approaches to measuring movement. Inertial sensors, sensor-derived biofeedback, computer vision and data science help us study movement and support assessment beyond a traditional motion capture laboratory.
03
Movement at work & in sport
We examine how people adapt to physical demands, from repetitive lifting to sprinting and rowing. Our work tests assistive technologies and explores coordination associated with performance.
02 / The lab
Measure precisely.
Think beyond the lab.
Our research combines movement measurement, muscle recordings and computational analysis. This lets us connect what the body does with how the neuromuscular system controls it.
3D & markerless motion capture
Surface & high-density electromyography
Force measurement & wearable sensing
Computational biomechanics & data science
Brock University
Department of Kinesiology
St. Catharines, Ontario
Research in action
3D motion capture for sport
Brock University · Watch on YouTube ↗
Testing back-support exoskeletons
Brock University · Watch on YouTube ↗
03 / Selected publications
The work behind
the questions.
Recent studies across spine function, wearable assistance and movement analysis.
Featured study / 2026
Movement assessment, from a smartphone.
In a worldwide cohort of 448 participants, video-derived movement features were associated with self-reported low back function. The study demonstrates the potential of accessible movement measurement, with further validation needed before clinical screening use.
2026
Videos of common activities reveal movement patterns associated with biopsychosocial low back function in a worldwide cohort
Alano CJ, Holmes MWR, Beaudette SM.
Digital Health · 12
2026
The interaction of mechanical, contextual, and perceptual variables on movement patterns during an occupation-style lifting task
Brickman DS, Czegeny KM, Doctor IM, Holmes MWR, Tokuno CD, Fischer SL, Beaudette SM.
Journal of Biomechanics Open · 100019
2025
Ability of a passive back support exoskeleton to mitigate fatigue related adaptations in a complex repetitive lifting task
Ratke EJ, McMaster H, Vellucci CL, Larson DJ, Holmes MWR, Beaudette SM.
Journal of Biomechanics · 181:112553
2025
Adaptations to fatigue during a repetitive multiplanar lifting task
Ratke EJ, Larson DJ, Holmes MWR, Beaudette SM.
Applied Ergonomics · 129:104587
2025
Multijoint coordination contributes to the minimization of frontal plane centre of mass displacement in maximal velocity sprinting
Vellucci CL, Beaudette SM.
Journal of Applied Biomechanics · 41:561–570
2024
Wearable technology mediated biofeedback to modulate spine motor control: a scoping review
Battis A, Norrie JP, McMaster H, Beaudette SM.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · 25:770
Student scholarship
Explore the theses.
Full graduate research projects, preserved and accessible through Brock’s digital repository. Years follow repository issue dates.
2025
Joint Coordination Variability During the Back Squat & Front Squat at Different Loads
Nicolas Eck · Master’s thesis · Brock University
2025
The Effects of Psychological Variables on Movement Patterns During Occupation-Style Lifting Tasks
Daniel Brickman · Master’s thesis · Brock University
2024
Automated Movement Screen: Using Smartphone Videos to Objectively Appraise Low Back Motor Function
Carl Alano · Master’s thesis · Brock University
2023
An exploratory study evaluating the effectiveness of a data driven approach to identifying coordinative features that are associated with sprint velocity
Christopher Vellucci · Master’s thesis · Brock University
2022
An investigation into the utility of wearable sensor derived biofeedback on the motor control of the lumbar spine
Aurora Battis · Master’s thesis · Brock University
2022
Assessing the prevalence of injuries in competitive rowing athletes: the effects of body location, sex, and perceived fatigue
Alexander Johnston · Master’s thesis · Brock University
2021
Assessing the Utility of a Video-Based Motion Capture Alternative in the Assessment of Lumbar Spine Planar Angular Joint Kinematics
Paul Goncharow · Master’s thesis · Brock University
04 / People
Dr. Shawn Beaudette
Lab Director · Associate Professor of Kinesiology
Shawn’s research connects spine biomechanics, sensory feedback and neuromuscular control. His work explores how objective movement measures can inform our understanding of low back function and support more accessible assessment technologies.
The lab brings together undergraduate and graduate researchers working across biomechanics, neurophysiology and computational movement science.
Researcher spotlights
Chris Vellucci
AI, motion capture & sport performance
Research on data-driven approaches to sprint coordination and accessible movement analysis.
Aurora Battis
Sensory feedback & spine control
Research on proprioception, wearable biofeedback and sensory contributions to the flexion-relaxation phenomenon.
Jarrett Norrie
Spine biomechanics & motion analysis
Research connecting intersegmental spine control with accessible approaches to movement measurement.
Emma Ratke
Muscle function & wearable assistance
Research on fatigue, back-support exoskeletons and the neuromuscular control of trunk musculature.
Ian Doctor
Movement coordination & rowing
Research on rowing coordination and lumbar movement during everyday activities.
Jared Seick
High-density electromyography
Research on how exercise-induced muscle damage affects spatial activation patterns in the biceps brachii.
Student achievement
Learning that stands
on an international stage.
Brock student teams mentored by Shawn Beaudette have applied biomechanics and data science to international Xsens / Movella challenges.
2023 / First place
A winning approach
to cross-country skiing.
Alex MacNeil, Tamar Kritzer, Noah Polesky and Alexis Napper placed first in a competition involving 81 teams from 28 countries. Advised by Shawn through Advanced Biomechanics Research Methods, the team used wearable-sensor data to develop an objective coaching approach.
Xsens · 2023 final presentations. Watch on YouTube ↗
2022 / Second place
Measuring movement in daily life.
Aurora Battis, Jarrett Norrie, Tiffany Hsu and Vanessa Yuan analyzed wearable-sensor data related to Parkinson’s disease. The team was supported by Shawn Beaudette, Michael Holmes, Kelly Lockwood and Craig Tokuno.
2021 / Finalists
Turning sensor data into feedback.
Kailynn Manella, Aurora Battis, Colin Dunne and Chris Vellucci developed a framework using inertial motion-capture data to estimate power and bilateral asymmetry during sporting movements.
05 / News & media
Research in the world.
Stories about the people, partnerships and ideas moving our research forward.
From biomechanics research to AI-supported patient care
Brock graduates are translating biomechanics and computer vision research into Kactis.AI, with continued mentorship from Shawn Beaudette.
Turning movement into music and art
An interdisciplinary project co-led by Beaudette will explore sensor-equipped garments that make physical activity a creative experience for older adults.
Testing back-support exoskeletons in realistic lifting tasks
Research led by the lab examines how wearable assistance changes exertion, muscle activity and movement during repetitive lifting.
In conversation / CBC Radio
Talking about back pain
with The Current.
Shawn joined CBC’s The Current with Matt Galloway to discuss approaches to managing low back pain. Explore the radio conversation and CBC’s accompanying reporting on movement, water-based exercise and fear of injury.
More media coverage
- Rowing technology and student innovation — Brock News, 08 July 2025
- Exoskeleton research reaches the insurance sector — Carrier Management, 21 February 2025
- Partnering on 3D motion capture for sport — Brock News, 30 May 2023
- Exploring video and AI for low back assessment — CityNews Toronto, 10 March 2023
- Investigating AI-assisted movement assessment — Brock News, 08 February 2023
Partnerships & translation
From shared questions
to practical applications.
Selected collaborations and companies connected to our research and trainee development.
Alumni-founded company
Kactis.AI
Founded by Brock graduates, including former lab trainee Paul Goncharow. Biomechanics and computer vision research helped lay the groundwork for a platform supporting rehabilitation professionals. Shawn continues to provide mentorship and advice.
Student-founded company & research collaboration
Chalk Monkey Labs
Founded by Chris Vellucci during his graduate training. Collaborative projects have explored accessible motion capture and data-driven approaches to athletic technique and sprint performance.
Research collaboration · 2024–2026
3MotionAI
A Mitacs-supported project exploring automated golf-performance assessment using markerless motion capture from a cellphone camera.
Challenge-linked research · 2023–2025
Movella / Xsens
The 2023 competition award supported further cross-country skiing research, connecting wearable motion capture, student-led analysis and a peer-reviewed publication.
Research support
Our research has been supported by NSERC, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Mitacs, Brock University and other collaborators and funding partners.
06 / Connect
Bring your curiosity.
Let’s move research forward.
Interested in graduate research, an undergraduate project or a research collaboration? Contact Shawn with a brief introduction and the questions you would like to explore.
Spine Biomechanics &
Neuromuscular Control Laboratory
Department of Kinesiology
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Brock University
1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way
St. Catharines, Ontario
Canada L2S 3A1