Supported Treadmill Training To Establish Walking In Non-ambulatory Patients Early After Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,349.00
Summary
This project will improve the health and well being of people affected by stroke. Stroke is the most common disabling neurological condition in adults and consumes up to 5% of health care expenditure in developed countries, estimated by the National Stroke Foundation at $1-2 billion per year in Australia. Some 48,000 people suffer a stroke each year in Australia, with approximately one third of these people requiring inpatient rehabilitation and 70% of them are unable to walk on admission to reh ....This project will improve the health and well being of people affected by stroke. Stroke is the most common disabling neurological condition in adults and consumes up to 5% of health care expenditure in developed countries, estimated by the National Stroke Foundation at $1-2 billion per year in Australia. Some 48,000 people suffer a stroke each year in Australia, with approximately one third of these people requiring inpatient rehabilitation and 70% of them are unable to walk on admission to rehabilitation. This randomised controlled trial will investigate whether treadmill walking with partial weight support via an overhead harness is effective at establishing independent walking (i) more often, (ii) earlier and (iii) with a better quality of walking, than current treatment for stroke patients who cannot walk. We will measure (i) whether patients achieve independent walking and (ii) the time taken to achieve independent walking. We will also measure parameters of walking such as speed, step length and step width to evaluate the effect of treadmill training on the quality of walking. Furthermore, by measuring participation in the community at 6 months, we will evaluate the long-term effect of this innovative treatment. Given that independence in walking is a major factor in the decision to discharge patients from inpatient care, earlier independent walking should result in a reduction in length of hospital stay which will save about $800 per patient per day in a teaching hospital setting. Identifying rehabilitation strategies which enhance walking outcome will not only improve quality of life of both stroke patients and their carers by reducing disability and handicap but also reduce the cost of rehabilitation.Read moreRead less
Characterisation Of The Morning Surge Of Blood Pressure As A Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,450.00
Summary
Cardiovascular events occur more frequently in the early morning transition between the asleep and awake state. This parallels the period where the rise in blood pressure and heart rate is at its greatest and hence may be a potential risk marker for cardiovascular events. We have developed a new mathematical way of measuring the morning surge in blood pressure and heart rate in patients using ambulatory monitoring which has been patented. The main aim of the grant is to determine if morning bloo ....Cardiovascular events occur more frequently in the early morning transition between the asleep and awake state. This parallels the period where the rise in blood pressure and heart rate is at its greatest and hence may be a potential risk marker for cardiovascular events. We have developed a new mathematical way of measuring the morning surge in blood pressure and heart rate in patients using ambulatory monitoring which has been patented. The main aim of the grant is to determine if morning blood pressure surge is a risk factor and to determine the underlying mechanisms. Using both clinical and experimental studies we aim to a) characterise the rate of morning rise in hypertension and normotension b) determine whether subjects with an exaggerated morning surge in blood pressure also have an over responsive nervous system, c) determine whether the rate of rise in blood pressure is a risk factor and d) determine in stroke prone animals whether preventing the waking blood pressure surge is beneficial. This will be achieved via a novel analysis method of continuous BP recording over the 24hr period. These studies are important since identification of new risk markers or predictors of sudden cardiac death, stroke and myocardial infarction is a national health priority. Understanding the mechanisms that are responsible for the increased risk of a cardiovascular event in the morning is the first step to devising appropriate treatment and risk management. Our study will shed light on both the mechanism and the therapy aspects.Read moreRead less
The Australian Parkinson's Project - Uncovering Genetic Risk Factors For Sporadic PD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$768,546.00
Summary
Parkinson s disease (PD) is a progressively disabling movement disorder afflicting many elderly Australians. It is caused by the degeneration of specific nerve cells in the brain that produce certain chemicals and patients suffer from an inability to move fluently (or ultimately at all). At present we do not know what triggers this neurodegeneration, but it is believed that complex interactions between inherited (genetic) and environmental factors contribute significantly to the phenomenon. This ....Parkinson s disease (PD) is a progressively disabling movement disorder afflicting many elderly Australians. It is caused by the degeneration of specific nerve cells in the brain that produce certain chemicals and patients suffer from an inability to move fluently (or ultimately at all). At present we do not know what triggers this neurodegeneration, but it is believed that complex interactions between inherited (genetic) and environmental factors contribute significantly to the phenomenon. This project aims to learn more about these complex interactions and their association with PD. People with PD and unaffected individuals will be recruited from throughout Australia and we will look for specific combinations of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that either increase or decrease an individual's risk for PD. This research will identify the most common dominant genetic and environmental influences for PD in Australia, enabling scientists to focus on the most relevant biological pathways to target therapeutically.Read moreRead less