Training Dual Task Performance During Gait In Parkinson Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,980.00
Summary
Difficulty performing more than one task at a time is a common and disabling problem experienced by people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), a progressive neurological condition that affects the ability of people to perform well-learned movements like walking with normal speed and size. This research will investigate how to best train people with PD to dual-task when walking. Teaching people with PD how to dual task will enhance their everyday activities and has potential to reduce falls incidence.
Targeted Strength Training To Improve Functional Walking Capacity Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$263,449.00
Summary
Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of disability in children. Caused by damage to the brain in early childhood cerebral palsy leads to muscle weakness and difficulties in walking. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but we can help the weak muscles . The purpose of this trial is to establish that exercises to strengthen the weakest muscles will help the walking ability of teenagers and young adults with cerebral palsy, as they make the transition to independence and adulthood.
Pedunculopontine Nucleus Stimulation For Gait Freezing And Postural Instability In Parkinson’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$223,118.00
Summary
Over 64,000 Australians have Parkinson’s disease. Most patients with Parkinson’s disease ultimately develop gait ‘freezing’ and poor balance, which impair quality of life and cause falls. Unfortunately, gait freezing and poor balance often don’t improve with conventional treatments. We are therefore developing a new treatment for these symptoms, which involves implanting a pacemaker into a very deep brain region called the “Pedunculopontine Nucleus’.
INVESTIGATING PROPRIOCEPTION AND SENSORIMOTOR CONTROL IN HUMANS DEVOID OF FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE SPINDLES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,983.00
Summary
Specific genetic mutations can lead to widespread changes in the body. Here we are looking at congenital Hereditary and Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy type III (HSAN III). Affected individuals have difficulty walking, which progressively worsens over time. This series of experiments aims to increase our understanding of the underlying neurophysiological disturbances in HSAN III.
Leading Change In Prevention And Management Of Lower Limb And Foot Complications Resulting From Disease Processes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,014.00
Summary
These projects are designed to have a large scale impact on the foot health of people who have diabetes and children who have idiopathic toe walking. These projects aim to improve individual’s diabetes related foot health, reduce health system financial impact relating to lower limb amputation and to extend what is known about idiopathic toe walking.
Task-specific Strength Training For Mobility Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,768.00
Summary
I am a senior physiotherapist working in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) unit at Epworth Rehabilitation. We have identified and described the nature and extent of walking problems following TBI. Previous researchers focused on the impact of balance disorders on walking. Our research found that balance disorders are prevalent; the main cause of walking problems is muscle weakness. We will compare balance and muscle strengthening exercises to determine which has a greater impact on walking.
A Prospective Study To Identify The Mechanical Causes And Methods For Early Detection Of Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Knee osteoarthritis is a great cost to society, financially and in quality of life. Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat the symptoms, but many people receive joint replacements to stop pain and improve function. We need to prevent osteoarthritis, but the causes for this common disease are largely unknown. Animal studies have shown two particular mechanical factors that cause osteoarthritis, which are seen in the walking and running, or gait, patterns of some people. We call these ....Knee osteoarthritis is a great cost to society, financially and in quality of life. Anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat the symptoms, but many people receive joint replacements to stop pain and improve function. We need to prevent osteoarthritis, but the causes for this common disease are largely unknown. Animal studies have shown two particular mechanical factors that cause osteoarthritis, which are seen in the walking and running, or gait, patterns of some people. We call these pathological gait patterns as they impose larger-than-normal forces on the knee's articular surfaces. We measure these knee forces with our new computer knee model coupled with data that we measure in a gait analysis laboratory. These forces may cause knee osteoarthritis in humans, but this is still unknown. Currently there is no simple medical test to detect the early onset of knee osteoarthritis. The bones in the knee are one of the first structures to show osteoarthritic changes. Using our new computerised analysis of high definition X-ray of the knee we can identify subtle differences in the knee due to osteoarthritis. This will be compared with changes to joint assessed using MRI. Osteoarthritis develops slowly in normal people, so to study progression of knee osteoarthritis we need a human population that has a higher risk of developing the disease. Partial meniscectomy in the knee is a common surgery performed to improve knee function in those who have suffered a knee meniscus injury. However, partial meniscectomy patients have a high risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, using partial meniscectomy patients we are investigating if pathological gait patterns cause knee osteoarthritis, measuring the development of the disease with our new X-ray methods. With the gait analysis methods we can also identify the movements that characterise these pathological gait patterns so we can formulate rehabilitation programmes to help prevent knee osteoarthritis.Read moreRead less
I am a physiologist investigating how the brain controls balance and movement. Many neurological disorders cause unsteady balance and problems with movement, and consequently a poor quality of life. I study people with disorders of the sensory and movement processing areas of the brain to discover how the brain combines different sensory information to control balance. This work will improve understanding of human balance and movement, and lead to new clinical techniques for assessment and treat ....I am a physiologist investigating how the brain controls balance and movement. Many neurological disorders cause unsteady balance and problems with movement, and consequently a poor quality of life. I study people with disorders of the sensory and movement processing areas of the brain to discover how the brain combines different sensory information to control balance. This work will improve understanding of human balance and movement, and lead to new clinical techniques for assessment and treatment.Read moreRead less
Improving Mobility After Traumatic Brain Injury With Ballistic Strength Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$661,430.00
Summary
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability amongst young adults, many of whom have difficulty walking. Muscle weakness is the main cause of these walking problems, but previous trials have failed to improve walking performance. We have developed new strengthening exercises which focus on how quickly the muscles can contract, rather than just how strong they are. These exercises can increase muscle power by 60-74% and are likely to improve people’s ability to walk.
Substantial portions of the Australian population have some difficulty walking. People affected include children with cerebral palsy, people who've had injuries playing sport and older people with Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis or who have had a stroke. The cost of managing arthritic conditions alone was estimated at $2.2 Billion for 2001. Gait analysis uses high technology video cameras, force transducers, muscle activity sensors and computers to record how people walk and is now being use ....Substantial portions of the Australian population have some difficulty walking. People affected include children with cerebral palsy, people who've had injuries playing sport and older people with Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis or who have had a stroke. The cost of managing arthritic conditions alone was estimated at $2.2 Billion for 2001. Gait analysis uses high technology video cameras, force transducers, muscle activity sensors and computers to record how people walk and is now being used more and more commonly across Australia. The technology is very similar to that now being used to capture how people move for the movie industry. The technology allows us a better understanding of how people are moving and therefore of what treatments they are likely to benefit from. Melbourne now has four Gait Analysis facilities working with different patient groups and each with an international reputation for its work. These groups have combined to form the CCRE in Gait Analysis and Gait Rehabilitation under the leadership of Professor H Kerr Graham (Royal Children's Hospital) and Professor Bob Iansek (Kingston Centre, Southern Health).Read moreRead less