Robert F. Kirsch, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
| Office: |
Room 115 Wickenden Building |
| Phone: |
(216)-368-3158 / 216 778-4139 |
| Fax: |
(216)-368-4969 / 216 778-4259 |
| Email: |
rfk3@case.edu |
| Mail Address: |
Room 309 Wickenden Building
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-7207 |
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Research Summary
My research focuses on the mechanics and control of human movement. In this work, I study the properties of the intact body to determine basic mechanical properties and to understand how the nervous system normally controls movement. I also study individuals with neurological disorders such as spinal cord injury to determine how to restore movements using electrical stimulation of paralyzed muscles and/or surgical procedures such as muscle tendon transfers. Current projects are focusing on restoring shoulder movements to individuals with cervical spinal cord injuries, providing individuals with paraplegia with the ability to stand without assistance, and understanding the natural neural control of human shoulder and elbow movements. Several different methods are used to study these issues, including computer-based modeling of the human shoulder/elbow and of the human lower extremities/trunk, artificial neural networks to implement nonlinear feedforward controller elements, and system identification to characterize the stiffness properties of the human arm. My research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Spinal Cord Research Foundation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Whitaker Foundation.
Recent Publications
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Amankwah K, Triolo RJ, Kirsch RF, and Audu M, A Model Based Study of Passive Joint Properties on Muscle Effort during Stance, Journal of Biomechanics, in press. |
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Pierre MC and Kirsch RF, Measurement and reliability of three-dimensional endpoint stiffness of the human arm. IEEE Trans. Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, in press. |
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Heilman BP, Audu, ML, Kirsch RF, Triolo RJ, Selection of an Optimal Muscle Set for a 16-Channel Standing Neuroprosthesis Using a Human Musculoskeletal Model. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, J Rehabil Res Dev. 43(2):273-86, 2006. |
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Kumar AN, Han YH, Kirsch RF, Dell´Osso LF, King WM, Leigh RJ, Tests of models for saccade–vergence interaction using novel stimulus conditions. Biol Cybern. 95(2):143-57, 2006. |
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Audu ML, Kirsch RF, Triolo RJ, Experimental verification of a computational technique for determining ground reactions in human bipedal stance. J Biomech. 21; [Epub ahead of print], 2006 |
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To CS, Kirsch RF, Kobetic R, Triolo RJ, Simulation of a functional neuromuscular stimulation powered mechanical gait orthosis with coordinated joint locking. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2005 Jun;13(2):227-35. |
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