COMPARE- Constraint Induced Or Multi-Modal Aphasia Rehabilitation: An RCT Of Therapy For Stroke Related Chronic Aphasia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,035,668.00
Summary
COMPARE is a 3 arm national randomised controlled trial comparing two types of intensive speech pathology treatment to usual care, for people with language disability 6 months to 3 years following stroke. After stratification by aphasia severity, participants are randomised to Multi-modality Aphasia Therapy, Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy, or usual care. Cognitive, language, and speech assessments at baseline will enable sophisticated predictors of treatment responsiveness to be defined.
Optimising Upper Limb Recovery Following Stroke: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Effects Of Botulinum Toxin-A Combined With Intensive Rehabilitation Compared To Botulinum Toxin-A Alone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,070,230.00
Summary
The devastating loss of movement in the hand after stroke could potentially be addressed, but we currently lack of research investigating treatment interventions. This randomised controlled trial will compare the routine interventions of botulinum toxin to botulinum toxin plus best-practice therapy for both cost and clinical outcome. Findings from this trial will provide the necessary information to make decisions about what will improve spasticity and function in the hand and arm after stroke.
Effectiveness Of Training Somatosensation In The Hand After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,660.00
Summary
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, requiring provision of rehabilitation services to help minimize impairment and its impact on the ability to resume daily activities. The ability to feel textures and objects through touch and to know where one s limbs are in space are impaired in up to 85% of people who have suffered a stroke. People with this loss are handicapped by difficulties in exploring objects through touch and in performing everyday tasks that require grasp and manipulat ....Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, requiring provision of rehabilitation services to help minimize impairment and its impact on the ability to resume daily activities. The ability to feel textures and objects through touch and to know where one s limbs are in space are impaired in up to 85% of people who have suffered a stroke. People with this loss are handicapped by difficulties in exploring objects through touch and in performing everyday tasks that require grasp and manipulation of objects. Yet clinicians are either not treating the problem or are using methods without a sound theoretical basis and controlled evidence to support their application. We have systematically investigated optimal methods of sensory training across different sensory abilities using a series of single-subject experiments. Marked improvement in the ability to discriminate trained and related untrained texture stimuli and limb positions was achieved and maintained in most participants. These findings have provided the foundation for development a scientifically based and clinically focused sensory retraining program that has apparently excellent therapeutic potential. The purpose of the proposed study is to test the effectiveness of this scientifically based, clinical sensory retraining program in a broad group of stroke clients using the internationally recommended randomized controlled group design. The program will train a range of functionally important sensory discrimination tasks, i.e. texture discrimination, limb position sense and tactual object recognition, in clinical and home environments. Demonstration of clinically important and statistically significant training effects will provide the evidence necessary to recommend the introduction of the program into routine health service delivery. Investigation of patient characteristics that may impact on the ability to benefit from training will assist in the targeting of services to appropriate individuals.Read moreRead less
Influence Of Cortical Stroke And Experimental Brain Stimulation On Excitability Of Human Corticobulbar Motor Projections And Swallowing Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$130,183.00
Summary
Swallowing disorders often result from damage to the brain. They have profound consequences on patient health and quality of life and result in significant medical and socioeconomic costs. This project firstly investigates how motor networks in the brain control the muscles involved in swallowing and how this control is affected by stroke. Secondly, it evaluates the potential of novel interventions to improve impaired swallowing function following stroke by reorganising motor networks.
Ecosystem restoration of bauxite-processing residue sand disposal areas in Western Australia: Important biogeochemical processes and effective fertilisation strategies. Alumina production is one of Australia's most important mining activities. Residue from bauxite-processing must be managed appropriately to minimise detrimental impacts on the surrounding environment. The location of Alcoa's WA Refineries in environmentally- and community- sensitive areas necessitates a detailed understanding of ....Ecosystem restoration of bauxite-processing residue sand disposal areas in Western Australia: Important biogeochemical processes and effective fertilisation strategies. Alumina production is one of Australia's most important mining activities. Residue from bauxite-processing must be managed appropriately to minimise detrimental impacts on the surrounding environment. The location of Alcoa's WA Refineries in environmentally- and community- sensitive areas necessitates a detailed understanding of residue disposal area (RDA) management. Currently little is known about the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in the residue sand despite its importance for sustainable rehabilitation practice. Findings from this project are critical for developing improved fertilisation strategies and protocols for ecosystem restoration of RDAs, which will be applicable both in Australia and overseas. Read moreRead less
Centre For Research Excellence In Stroke Rehabilitation And Brain Recovery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,595,746.00
Summary
The Centre of Research Excellence in Stroke Rehabilitation and Brain Recovery will transform the stroke research and practice landscape in Australia, and accelerate the development of new interventions strongly supported by neuroscience. This unique collaboration will improve patient selection and rehabilitation research methods, create a training culture for the next generation of rehabilitation researchers and effectively implement proven cost effective interventions for Australians.
Neuromuscular Exercise : A Novel Treatment To Reduce Symptoms And Joint Load In Medial Knee Osteoarthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$719,199.00
Summary
There is currently no cure for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Thus treatments are needed that not only reduce symptoms but also slow disease progression. Exercise is recommended for knee OA but traditional thigh muscle strengthening exercises do not appear to be effective in all cases and may not slow the disease. This project will compare novel 'neuromuscular exercise' and compare it to traditional strengthening exercise. The results have the potential to alter current exercise prescription
Neurophysiological Basis For Sensorimotor Interventions In Rehabilitation After Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$332,036.00
Summary
Stroke is estimated to cost the Australian government almost $2 billion annually, and is the most common cause of death after heart disease and cancer and one of the largest single causes of long-term disability. Of people who survive a stroke, a large number have some degree of residual motor dysfunction on one side of the body. Motor rehabilitation programmes are generally considered to enhance the recovery of motor function and to reduce the degree of long-term disability. However the rationa ....Stroke is estimated to cost the Australian government almost $2 billion annually, and is the most common cause of death after heart disease and cancer and one of the largest single causes of long-term disability. Of people who survive a stroke, a large number have some degree of residual motor dysfunction on one side of the body. Motor rehabilitation programmes are generally considered to enhance the recovery of motor function and to reduce the degree of long-term disability. However the rationale for the design of effective rehabilitation programmes is largely empirical, and there is uncertainty regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of currently used therapies. The empirical nature of stroke rehabilitation has resulted in a diversity of techniques, many of which were pioneered 30-40 years ago, and which are generally aimed at enhancing brain plasticity as a means to facilitate motor recovery. However, despite the belief that brain plasticity is a key to recovery, it is still not known how best to develop this potential for reorganisation into practical interventions that could be introduced in stroke rehabilitation. The aim of the present study is to investigate the physiological bases for the action of commonly used sensorimotor rehabilitation strategies and identify those strategies which are most effective in bringing about corticomotor reorganisation, in the belief that such reorganisation is fundamental to motor recovery. Specifically we will investigate the changes in the organisation of the cortical projection to muscles of the upper limb as a result of passive movement, resisted and non-resisted movement, increased functional motor use and visuomotor training programmes. It is anticipated that the study will lead to a better understanding of the physiological basis for therapeutic interventions after stroke and will allow a more rational approach to the design of effective rehabilitation programmes for stroke patients.Read moreRead less
Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in ....Novel strategy for optimising fertilizer input coupled with organic residue management for sustainable reconstruction of jarrah forest ecosystem. This project is aimed at judicious management of the rehabilitation process following surface mining by reducing initial fertilizer input along with using organic residue accumulated following pre-mine clearing of vegetation. This approach has the potential for 'speeding-up' the ecosystem development process by initiating early microbial development in rehabilitation practice and reducing the deleterious effect of heavy fertilization. Apart from these ecological advantages, reducing fertilizer application lowers minesite rehabilitation cost incurred by mining companies. This project will be the first attempt to use organic residue and streamlining the use of mineral fertilizers in mine rehabilitation practice.Read moreRead less
Pushing And Pulling Evidence Into Practice: Implementing Best Practices In Upper Limb Movement Therapy After Acquired Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$178,157.00
Summary
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is the leading cause of disability in adults in Australia. After ABI, many people are unable to use their upper limb (UL) to perform important, everyday tasks. While there is research evidence which has shown that movement therapy targeted at the UL will improve the likelihood of being able to use the UL after rehabilitation, many therapists do not currently provide sufficient UL movement therapy to patients. This practice gap will be addressed in this project.