Mission and Research Focus
The ABLE Lab conducts clinical and translational research on foot and ankle deformities to improve patient care and health outcomes. Our mission is to enhance mobility, functional independence, walking ability, and overall quality of life for individuals with foot and ankle dysfunction. We pursue this mission through advanced gait biomechanics, finite-element modeling, musculoskeletal modeling and simulation, and analysis of movement variability.
Through this work, the ABLE Lab supports high-quality health care and comprehensive medical and surgical foot and ankle treatment throughout South Texas. Our research integrates advanced biomechanical analysis to better understand foot and ankle pathology and to inform evidence-based clinical decision-making. By combining experimental gait analysis with computational modeling approaches, we aim to translate biomechanical insights into improved diagnostic strategies and treatment outcomes.
Education and Training Opportunities
The ABLE Lab is committed to training the next generation of clinician scientists and biomechanics researchers, with a particular emphasis on podiatric medical education. We offer podiatric medical students hands-on experience with advanced biomechanics tools, complementing their classroom didactic instruction. Students gain a strong foundation in gait biomechanics and explore how biomechanical principles influence the treatment of specific foot and ankle conditions. By understanding the biomechanical effects of various interventions across different pathologies, students learn to identify gait dysfunctions and evaluate whether current treatments effectively restore normal lower-extremity biomechanics. This experience prepares future podiatrists to integrate biomechanical tools into clinical practice — enhancing diagnosis, deepening disease understanding, and supporting the development of innovative, evidence-based treatments.
Join the ABLE Lab
The ABLE Lab is an interdisciplinary research environment that welcomes students and collaborators from biomechanics, engineering, rehabilitation sciences, computational modeling, and podiatric medicine. We encourage trainees from diverse backgrounds to join us as we advance science and develop innovative clinical solutions.
If you have questions about the lab or are interested in joining as a research assistant or volunteer, please contact Dr. Hafizur Rahman at hafizur.rahman(at)utrgv.edu.