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FEIPEL Véronique
Units
Laboratory for Functional Anatomy
Person in charge of the Unit : Oui
The Laboratory for Functional Anatomy (LAF) is a research group dedicated to human and animal anatomy and embryology. The LAF works in close collaboration with the Laboratory of Anatomy Biomechanics and Organogenesis (Faculty of Medicine), which benefits from the same infrastructure. Several research themes are also developed jointly. Research in the LAF is structured around complementary themes: - biomechanics, modeling and functional assessment - macroscopic and microscopic anatomy - embryology and teratology - forensic medicine and forensic anthropology - HOX genes and ovarian function - neurobiomechanics
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis
Person in charge of the Unit : Oui
Education - Our LABO teaches anatomy to students of various programs, including medicine, dental sciences, veterinary sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, bioengineering, sports, nursing, pharmacy, medical biology and arts. Moreover, LABO members also teach human embryology. Research - The LABO is active in several fields thanks to its multidisciplinary staff and expertise: Biomechanics, Anatomy, Organogenesis, Embryology, Veterinary Sciences and Legal Medicine. State-of-the-art equipment is available. Clinics - The Center for Functional Evaluation (or CFE) organised by LABO offers patients, and their therapists, all services for following-up of locomotor and gesture disabilities linked to a variety of disorders (orthopeadics, neurology, etc). Clinical research is also performed at LABO. Logistics - The LABO is taking part in the organisation of various structures and international scientific events.
ULB Interdisciplinary Research Institute for Sports
Person in charge of the Unit : Oui
U-IRIS is intended to bring together research skills existing at ULB in the fields of sports and physical activity in order to stimulate collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The research carried out within U-IRIS could be the basis of evidence-based advice in various fields of sport and physical activity. ULB and each of U-IRIS partner groups, as well as their existing activities, platforms, infrastructures and collaborations, will gain in visibility, both internally and externally in a promising and rapidly evolving field. The research carried out by U-IRIS is designed to be both fundamental and applied. It is developed around five major axes: - clinics / sports medicine - high level sports / performance - rehabilitation / handicap and sports - sports and society (including education through sports) - prevention / public health / nutrition. The groups participating in U-IRIS represent the Faculties of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Medicine, Psychology and Educational Sciences, Motor Sciences, the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, the School of Public Health, the Research Department, ULB-Sports and the Erasme Academic Hospital.
Projetcs
Macroscopic and microscopic anatomy
Comparative anatomy of the Achilles tendon : This project, carried out in collaboration between LABO, LAF, the Swedish School of Sports and the Histology Laboratory, aims to study the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the human and primate Achilles tendon to clarify contradictions in the literature concerning the twisting of fibers, the existence of sub-tendons and the preferential location of overload lesions within the tendon. To this end, this study combines several in vivo and in vitro techniques to answer these questions, including classical dissection and morphometry, stereophotogrammetry, histology and medical imaging.
Macroscopic and microscopic anatomy
Comparative anatomy of the Achilles tendon This project, carried out in collaboration between LAF, LABO, the Swedish School of Sports and the Histology Laboratory, aims to study the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the human and primate Achilles tendon to clarify contradictions in the literature concerning the twisting of fibers, the existence of sub-tendons and the preferential location of overload lesions within the tendon. To this end, this study combines several in vivo and in vitro techniques to answer these questions, including classical dissection and morphometry, stereophotogrammetry, histology and medical imaging.
Museum of Anatomy and Embryology Louis Deroubaix
The enhancement of the historical collections of the Musée d'Anatomie et Embryologie Louis Deroubaix and the reflection on the teaching of morphology have a triple interest: didactic, historical and museological. S. Louryan's interest in the history of medicine (and of our faculty in particular) has also led to a number of research projects.
Posture, gait and motion analysis in subjects with low back pain
Chronic low back pain is a symptom often encountered throughout the world, and it has a considerable impact on society. When confronted with it, sufferers may adopt a behaviour that consists of avoiding any movement that could exacerbate the pain. This can lead to a vicious circle of fear, immobility and pain. This has a negative impact on rehabilitation, quality of life and morale. A wide range of therapeutic approaches can be used, including medication, manipulation, massage, physical activity, relaxation, biopsychosocial approaches and surgery, including lumbar arthrodesis, to reduce long-term pain. The contribution of functional analysis (statics, posture, movement, walking) to the development, diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of patients suffering from low back pain is promising, but clinical studies supporting its relevance are rare. With our study, we aim to help verify the clinical relevance of functional analysis by studying the static (spinal curvatures, posture) and dynamic (movement and walking) differences that we might encounter in people with lumbar arthrodesis compared with asymptomatic people, and to better understand the role of functional assessment and optimise its use in clinical practice.
The aim of the Functional Assessment Center is to provide a space for data collection, both for clinical activities (e.g., the establishment of objective functional assessments for patients suffering from orthopedic or neurological pathologies) and for a variety of research purposes. The general research theme is linked to the development of quantified movement analysis methods applied to musculoskeletal disorders. Past research has focused on the design and development of 6 ddl articulated mechanical systems (three-dimensional electrogoniometry), the design of new experimental protocols, and the creation of data processing and visualization software; all scientific tools that have been integrated into numerous European research projects. The expertise acquired in theoretical and applied kinematics has enabled us to tackle the development of biomechanical models applied to joint complexes such as the shoulder and foot. A new technique for digitizing anatomical markers by manual palpation has been developed at LAF allowing to address the kinematics of the scapula, spine, temporomandibular joint and foot, considered as a multi-segment complex. The reliability and reproducibility of the new models have been assessed in numerous post-graduate studies, international communications and publications. These reproducibility studies have enabled us to build up reference databases that are used in our clinical assessments, ensuring their quality and relevance. The research tools we have developed have been applied in clinical research to answer the questions of various health practitioners (physicians, surgeons, physiotherapists). The functional examination reports developed are not only integrated into the hospital's IT system, but are also provided to the patient in PDF format, along with videos enabling doctors to match the results (tables, graphs, conclusions) with these videos. The methodologies developed are also used by our young researchers forming our team for their own research and doctorate.
The laboratory is currently involved in research into the identification of individuals in forensic anthropology. This work concerns the identification of individuals based on fragments of the lower limb (distal end of the femur and proximal end of the tibia). This research is carried out using the identified osteological collection created within LABO's Forensic Medicine and Anthropology Unit. They are based not only on conventional data collected during anthropometric measurements, but also on comparisons of these same measurements taken by CT-Scan.
Biomechanics, modeling and functional assessment
The research themes of this joint team (LABO - LAF) include all anatomical, physiological, functional and biomechanical aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Projects are aimed both at improving knowledge of morphology and biomechanics, and at developing innovative methods of movement analysis and practical or clinical applications. This involves innovative approaches to multidimensional data collection and analysis (including the organization of complex experimental protocols, the construction of experimental set-ups, the adaptation and creation of hardware, and the development of algorithms and modeling methods). The resources found at the LAF make it unique in its field, as it is one of the only places in the world to bring together so many resources (motion analysis, medical imaging, body donation, etc.) with a truly multidisciplinary team that is well trained to deal with the various aspects required for this research. Current research projects: - Evaluation and calculation of curvature profiles of the entire spine, as well as measurements of variations in thoracic geometry using a digitized manual anatomical double palpation method (a probe on each hand enabling distance measurements dynamically during respiratory movement) (PhD thesis supervision and collaboration with the Neurosurgery department). - Measurement of sagittal balance using force (AMTI) and dynamic pressure (RsScan) platforms. - Analysis of spatio-temporal parameters and changes in center of pressure and plantar pressures during walking in healthy subjects and those suffering from low back pain. - Validation of virtual reality methods for assessing mobility and proprioception of the cervical spine. - Creation of specific musculoskeletal models, including the creation of lever arms in different body joints: hip, ankle, knee, shoulder and jaw. - Development of an original software program, 'lhpFusionBox', for the fusion of heterogeneous data, enabling these data to be integrated into the same spatio-temporal space, and quantified. This software is used for most of LAF's doctoral theses.
