Han Houdijk

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Dr. J.H.P. (Han) Houdijk
Faculty of Human Movement Sciences
Van der Boechorststraat 9
1081 BT Amsterdam
Tel: +31 (20) 59 88469 
Room: A-616
Email: h.houdijk@fbw.vu.nl

also at

Heliomare R&D
Relweg 51
1949 EC  Wijk aan Zee
Tel: +31 (251) 288 148 
Email: h.houdijk@heliomare.nl
internet: www.heliomare.nl\rd

Research

My research focuses on the walking ability of people with several pathologies of the locomotor system, as well as able-bodied people. Special attention is paid to people walking with prostheses or orthoses. Walking ability is a multi-dimensional concept that depends on many factors. Therefore, from a human movement scientist’s point of view, I like to integrate mechanical, physiological and coordinative aspects of walking ability in these studies, with special attention to their inter-relation. I investigate how people optimize their gait pattern to walk either or both at adequate velocity, economy and stability. In addition, I investigate how physiological and mechanical aspects affect these criteria. The overall aim of the research is to understand how different factors influence walking ability and to apply this knowledge in the rehabilitation and training of patients with walking disorders.  

current projects

  • Relation between external mechanical work and metabolic energy cost of walking. In several studies on people with after transtibial amputation, total ankle arthroplasty and ankle arthrodesis we investigated whether the mechanical work for the step-to-step transition can explain the increased energy cost of pathological gait?
  • The relation between physical capacity and walking ability in lower limb amputees. In this PhD project we investigate the relative load of the aerobic and muscular system of lower limb amputees during walking in order to test whether these systems can be limiting factors for improving walking ability.
  • The cost for being stable. We investigate metabolic energy expenditure during static and dynamic balance tasks in order to validate measures for stability as well as to explore to what extend the effort for maintaining stability affect the energy cost of (pathological) movements.

    • publications
    international journals
    - Valent L.J.M., A.J Dallmeijer., H. Houdijk, E. Talsma, L.H.V. van der Woude (2007) The effects of upper body exercise on the physical capacity of people with a spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation. 21 (4), 315-330
    - Houdijk H., H.C. Doets, M. van Middelkoop, H.E.J. Veeger (2007) Joint stiffness of the ankle during walking after mobile bearing total ankle arthroplasty. Gait and Posture. In Press, Doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2007.03.05
    - Doets H.C., M. van Middelkoop, H. Houdijk, R.G.H.H. Nelissen, and H.E.J. Veeger (2007) Gait analysis after mobile bearing total ankle arthroplasty. Foot and Ankle International. 28 (3), 313-322
    - Valent L.J.M., A.J. Dallmeijer, H. Houdijk, J.R. Slootman, T.W.J. Janssen, A.P. Hollander, L.H.V. van der Woude (2007) The individual relationship between heart rate and oxygen uptake in people with a tetraplegia. Spinal Cord. 45 (1), 104-111.
    - Houdijk H., M.F. Bobbert and A. de Haan (2006) Evaluation of a Hill based muscle model for the energetic cost and efficiency of muscular contraction. Journal of Biomechanics. 39 (3), 536-543.
    - Velzen J.M. van, C.A.M. van Bennekom, W. Polomski, J.R. Slootman, L.H.V. van der Woude, H. Houdijk (2006) Physical capacity and walking ability after lower limb amputation: a review. Clinical Rehabilitation, 20 (11), 999-1016
    - Velzen J.M. van, H. Houdijk, W. Polomski, and C.A.M. van Bennekom (2005) Usability of gait analysis in the alignment of lower-limb prostheses: a clinical study. Prosthetics and Orthotics International 29 (3), 255-267
    - Houdijk, H., M.F. Bobbert, J.J. de Koning and G. de Groot (2003) The effect of klapskate hinge position on push off performance: a simulation study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 35, 2077-2084.
    - Houdijk, H., J.J. de Koning, M.F. Bobbert and G. de Groot (2002) How klapskate hinge position affects push-off mechanics in speed skating. Journal of Applied Biomechanics 18,. 292-305.
    - Bobbert, M.F., H. Houdijk and J.J. de Koning (2002). From a one-legged vertical jump to the speed skating push-off: a simulation study. Journal of Applied Biomechanics. 18, 28-45.
    - Houdijk, H., A.J. Wijker, J.J. de Koning, M.F. Bobbert and G. de Groot (2001) Ice friction in speed skating: can klapskates reduce ice frictional loss? Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 33, 499-504.
    - Houdijk, H., E.A.M. Heijnsdijk, J.J. de Koning, G. de Groot and M.F. Bobbert (2000). Physiological responses that account for the increased power output in speed skating using klapskates. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 83, 283-8.
    - Koning, J.J. de, H. Houdijk, G. de Groot, and M.F. Bobbert (2000). From biomechanical theory to application in top sports: The klapskate story. Journal of Biomechanics 33, 1225-1229.
    - Houdijk, H., J.J. de Koning, G. de Groot, M.F. Bobbert and G.J. van Ingen Schenau (2000). Push off mechanics in speed skating with conventional skates and klapskates. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 32, 35-641.
    - Farley, C.T., H. H. P. Houdijk, C. van Strien, and M. Louie (1998). Mechanism of leg stiffness adjustment for hopping on surfaces of different stiffnesses. Journal of Applied Physiology 85, 1044-55.