The implications of resistance training for the control of movement. Resistance training (or weight lifting) is an essential element of comprehensive rehabilitation programs in a wide range of clinical settings. However, because we know little about how the organization of the nervous system is affected by training with high loads, the consequences of resistance training for our ability to control functional movements are unclear. The ultimate goal of this research is to generate basic knowledge ....The implications of resistance training for the control of movement. Resistance training (or weight lifting) is an essential element of comprehensive rehabilitation programs in a wide range of clinical settings. However, because we know little about how the organization of the nervous system is affected by training with high loads, the consequences of resistance training for our ability to control functional movements are unclear. The ultimate goal of this research is to generate basic knowledge about the impact of resistance training on nervous system function. The research will lead to the design of injury prevention and rehabilitation programs that are maximally effective, and provide a genuine benefit to the community.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of Locomotion: Visualisation in skill acquisition & rehabilitation. How does visual information and attention determine the control and coordination of locomotion? Using large-screen projection of computer graphics and immersive virtual reality, we will examine the influence of visual information on driver training, gait in the elderly, cardiorespiratory control, and the attentional interference of mobile phones on driving. Experiments will be based on principles from dynamical and comp ....Dynamics of Locomotion: Visualisation in skill acquisition & rehabilitation. How does visual information and attention determine the control and coordination of locomotion? Using large-screen projection of computer graphics and immersive virtual reality, we will examine the influence of visual information on driver training, gait in the elderly, cardiorespiratory control, and the attentional interference of mobile phones on driving. Experiments will be based on principles from dynamical and complex systems theory and will inform the design of innovative algorithms for autonomous mobile robots. Expected outcomes include improved road safety, new methods for the rehabilitation of those with gait disorders, and a deeper understanding of the physiological response to virtual exercise.Read moreRead less
Understanding Tendon Response to Sport and Exercise: Implications for Optimising Training, Injury Prevention and Accelerated Rehabilitation. This research will use frontier technologies to establish the effect of physical activity on tendon adaptation and injury. It will address National Research Priorities and lead to contemporary evidence-based physical activity practices to optimise health and fitness, prevent injury, and expedite rehabilitation after injury. Given the significant national in ....Understanding Tendon Response to Sport and Exercise: Implications for Optimising Training, Injury Prevention and Accelerated Rehabilitation. This research will use frontier technologies to establish the effect of physical activity on tendon adaptation and injury. It will address National Research Priorities and lead to contemporary evidence-based physical activity practices to optimise health and fitness, prevent injury, and expedite rehabilitation after injury. Given the significant national investment in sport, the rise in obesity, and the immense cost of sedentary behaviour and sport-related injuries, this research will have applications for enhancing physical activity recommendations that maintain health for all Australians. It will enhance Australia's leading position in international sport and sport science research and have beneficial applications for occupational health.Read moreRead less
Audio-visual Information for Speech-hand Gestures. How does audio-visual information influence human movement and communication? We will investigate whether speech and hand gestures involve shared information about the timing of rhythmic movements. Using dynamical systems theory and brain imaging techniques, we will study rhythms that emerge during simultaneous speaking and finger tapping in both stutterers and non-stutterers, and in left-handers and right-handers. The communicative interaction ....Audio-visual Information for Speech-hand Gestures. How does audio-visual information influence human movement and communication? We will investigate whether speech and hand gestures involve shared information about the timing of rhythmic movements. Using dynamical systems theory and brain imaging techniques, we will study rhythms that emerge during simultaneous speaking and finger tapping in both stutterers and non-stutterers, and in left-handers and right-handers. The communicative interaction of two persons performing speech-hand gestures will be examined. Results will clarify how brain asymmetry affects gestural coordination in stutterers, how stuttering can be treated, and the hypothesis that speech and language evolved from a communication system based on hand gestures.
Read moreRead less
Understanding influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour from preschool to preadolescence. While promotion of optimal levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours during childhood is important for health, much remains unknown in this field. This study will extend an existing cohort of children, recruited at ages three to five years and followed up at six to eight years by reassessing these children at nine to eleven years. Novel additions to the cohort include long term foll ....Understanding influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour from preschool to preadolescence. While promotion of optimal levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours during childhood is important for health, much remains unknown in this field. This study will extend an existing cohort of children, recruited at ages three to five years and followed up at six to eight years by reassessing these children at nine to eleven years. Novel additions to the cohort include long term follow-up spanning preschool to preadolescence, application of an ecological framework, and collection of objective neighbourhood data using a Geographical Information System. Findings will provide important information for policy and interventions focused at the individual, family and neighbourhood level, to improve physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels across childhood.Read moreRead less
Development and application of wearable micro technologies for the assessment of swimming performance and activity. Australia's sporting performance at a national and international level are ingrained in the psyche of everyday Australians. It encourages sporting activity at every level of our society contributing to our well being and the development of tommorrow's athletes.
This research project will develop important tools for the assessment and servicing of our nations elite athletes, includ ....Development and application of wearable micro technologies for the assessment of swimming performance and activity. Australia's sporting performance at a national and international level are ingrained in the psyche of everyday Australians. It encourages sporting activity at every level of our society contributing to our well being and the development of tommorrow's athletes.
This research project will develop important tools for the assessment and servicing of our nations elite athletes, including those in regional areas. These tools will encompass the very latest in wearable technology and allow athletes to be measured under performance conditions rather than in the laboratory.
Assessment of human motion is also desirable as we seek to assess and aid a progressively aging population and a growing epidemic of obesity in our children.Read moreRead less
How does Motor Cortex Excitability Influence Internal Model Retention. Each year 40,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced quality of ....How does Motor Cortex Excitability Influence Internal Model Retention. Each year 40,000 Australians suffer from stroke with many survivors left with problems that limit limb function. With reduced duration of hospital care, the opportunities for retraining in the period immediate following stroke are rapidly diminishing. Effective and efficient strategies of rehabilitation that will maximise the level of recovery following stroke will result in benefits expressed in terms of enhanced quality of life and functional life-span, as well as significantly reduced costs of health care. In understanding the fundamental principles underlying the stability and adaptability of movement coordination, this research is likely to make a significant contribution to the design of programs for rehabilitation of the upper limb.Read moreRead less
Tracking the musculoskeletal health and performance of talented adolescent female athletes. The vision is to gain an innovative understanding of risk factors for the early detection or prevention of injury, and to identify factors that promote participation longevity in young athletes. The biomechanics explored in this study will provide a basis for larger studies in future years. Large economic and social benefits can be gained from increased knowledge of injury prevention early in life. Lowere ....Tracking the musculoskeletal health and performance of talented adolescent female athletes. The vision is to gain an innovative understanding of risk factors for the early detection or prevention of injury, and to identify factors that promote participation longevity in young athletes. The biomechanics explored in this study will provide a basis for larger studies in future years. Large economic and social benefits can be gained from increased knowledge of injury prevention early in life. Lowered injury costs provide immediate cost benefits to the nation. Ultimately, in a nation familiar with the high costs of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, the health sector of Australia will be the greatest benefactor of this project.Read moreRead less
Visuomotor Adaptation and Stimulus Response Compatibility: Basic Mechanisms and Safety Implications for Heavy Equipment. This project will explore mechanisms of human visuomotor adaptation using a directional stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) paradigm. The latter refers to the greatly enhanced performance for ?natural? pairings of control movement directions and system output directions. The outcomes are both theoretical (understanding basic processes) and applied (design and training gui ....Visuomotor Adaptation and Stimulus Response Compatibility: Basic Mechanisms and Safety Implications for Heavy Equipment. This project will explore mechanisms of human visuomotor adaptation using a directional stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) paradigm. The latter refers to the greatly enhanced performance for ?natural? pairings of control movement directions and system output directions. The outcomes are both theoretical (understanding basic processes) and applied (design and training guidelines for equipment in construction, mining, transport and aerospace industries). The issue is also significant both theoretically, since models of adaptation and SRC phenomena have not previously been combined, and practically, as serious heavy equipment accidents can result from designs that are not based on sound human performance principles.Read moreRead less
Evaluating the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on athletic performance. Sufficient physical activity is required for good health. Competitive sport is a culturally significant physical activity in Australia and the prospect of participating in fair competition is known to drive participation. In Paralympic sport, fair competition is enabled by classification, which aims to minimise the impact of impairments on competition outcome. Unfortunately classification methods are not evidence-b ....Evaluating the impact of neuromusculoskeletal impairment on athletic performance. Sufficient physical activity is required for good health. Competitive sport is a culturally significant physical activity in Australia and the prospect of participating in fair competition is known to drive participation. In Paralympic sport, fair competition is enabled by classification, which aims to minimise the impact of impairments on competition outcome. Unfortunately classification methods are not evidence-based, reducing confidence in the process and discouraging participation. This project will inform the development of the first evidence-based classification system, creating the possibility that, in the future, the prospect of truly fair competition may motivate sports participation among Australians, regardless of disability.Read moreRead less