Overall Theme: Movement Control Mechanisms in Health and Disease
Research at the Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre is primarily concerned with the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the control of movement in healthy individuals and those with movement problems arising from disease or injury. Some projects also involve the investigation of intervention programs to reduce disability and improve participation in society.

Gait and Posture

• Gait across the lifespan: development and decline.
• Obstacle crossing in stroke patients
• Evaluation of dystonia
• The effect of lower limb prostheses (traditional versus novel) upon the ability of above knee amputees to traverse “everyday” terrain.
  

Upper Limb Rehabilitation

• Evaluation of tactile discrimination in the hand
• Sensorimotor integration in the hand
• 3-D analysis of shoulder movement in stroke patients

Women’s Health

• POPPY: Pelvic Organ Prolapse PhysiotherapY (POPPY)
• Modelling of pelvic floor muscle function.

Paediatric Physiotherapy

• Motor development in premature children.
• Motor development in infants with cardiac disease
• Length-tension relationships in the calf muscles of children with cerebral palsy

Spinal Cord Injury

• FES-assisted hand exercise in people with chronic tetraplegia
• SCIPA: Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Activity
• Use of pressure mat technology for seating prescription in spinal cord injured patients
• Wheel Fit: A pilot health and wellbeing program for people with a spinal cord injury

Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy

• More information to follow shortly.

Basic Science

• Changes in neural connectivity with exercise following spinal cord injury.
• Postsynaptic actions of pyramidal tract and reticulospinal neurones on motoneurones innervating back muscles in the cat

Research Programs

• Publications
• Grants