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The Functional Outcomes Research Evaluation (F.O.R.E.) Center was founded in 2004 by the University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy. After completing five years of clinical testing with evidence-based amputee rehabilitation and prosthetics, in 2011 the F.O.R.E. Center was moved from the Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System’s Rehabilitation Center to the University of Miami Coral Gables campus for closer proximity to the Department Physical Therapy. During this time, the focus on outcomes and rehabilitation expanded to the development of wearable sensors, mobile health technologies and tele rehabilitation creating new partnerships. The Frost School of Music’s Music Engineering and Technology department became a valued partner in the design and development of numerous technologies such as the Rehabilitative Lower Limb Orthopedic Analysis Device (ReLOAD) systems. All F.O.R.E. Center technologies involve a combination of outcomes measures, biomechanical data, data analysis, treatment and multi-modal feedback. For example, the ReLOAD music feedback system takes human gait information from sensors in a knee sleeve worn by a patient, prioritizes the physical limitations, provides verbal commands and then proportionally distorts the music they are listening to via their ear buds. In short, the music lets them know how well they are walking.
The innovative work developed at the F.O.R.E. Center is made possible by our wonderful partners. Our University of Miami collaborations include the Departments of Music Engineering, Athletics, Sports Medicine Institute, Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Biomedical Engineering. Some of our external collaborators include the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Uniformed Services University, University of Washington, University of Western Michigan, Geneva Foundation, Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Össur and John Hopkins University.