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
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.
NaviGAIT: New Software To Simplify Interpretation Of Gait Analysis Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$179,905.00
Summary
NaviGAIT is a new software package to support interpretation of gait analysis data. It is based upon Gait Profiling, a new technique to reduce the complexity of such data. At present data intepretation is restricted to a few expert clinicians. The new software will allow non-expert clinicians to interpret data and hence make gait analysis more accessible, cheaper and more clincally useful. A module of NaviGAIT specifically for children with cerebral palsy will be the first to be developed.
Optimal Choice Of Skin Mounted Marker Locations On The Tibia Effectively Reduces The Effect Of Soft Tissue Artifact.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$56,677.00
Summary
Gait analysis is a technique used to get information about the way people walk. The information is obtained by measuring the position of markers attached to the skin over bony landmarks. These areas of skin are known to move in relation to the landmarks when people walk. This can limit the accuracy of three dimensional analysis of walking. Innovative techniques to overcome this problem will be identified, increasing accuracy of measurement and clinical decision making.
Dynamic Postural Stability And Falls Prediction In Older People During Walking In Real-world Environments.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,793.00
Summary
The increased occurrence of falls with advancing age (33-50% of people aged >65 years) is a significant cause of mortality (1014 deaths in 1998), morbidity, and disability, affecting not only the individuals concerned, but the health care system (45,069 fall related hospitalizations in 1998 in Australia) and the broader community (National falls Prevention Initiative, 2004). Although there are a number of falls risk tests, most rely on determination of body sway while standing when the body i ....The increased occurrence of falls with advancing age (33-50% of people aged >65 years) is a significant cause of mortality (1014 deaths in 1998), morbidity, and disability, affecting not only the individuals concerned, but the health care system (45,069 fall related hospitalizations in 1998 in Australia) and the broader community (National falls Prevention Initiative, 2004). Although there are a number of falls risk tests, most rely on determination of body sway while standing when the body is static rather than in motion. Given that up to 70% of falls occur during walking and performing transfers, there is a clear need to develop tests of falls risk prediction that incorporate indices of postural stability measured during more dynamic activities. Test development needs to be underpinned by clear evidence of how age-related sensory and motor deficits affect postural stability during walking. The studies outlined in this application will develop and utilise new accelerometer-based technologies to determine the fundamental mechanisms underlying balance control during walking in older people. Specifically, this project will aim to develop a clear understanding of how changes in factors as vision, neuromuscular function (strength, stiffness) and proprioception contribute to the overall decline in stability and balance during walking in older people. Combined with physiological assessment measures developed by the research team, the research will allow the development of a more definitive predictive test of stability and falls risk. This test will be able to be used by health professionals for assessment of older people to determine the most effective therapeutic and-or exercise interventions to target those individuals at risk. This technology will also be adaptable to a biofeedback device to allow individuals to monitor their own stability.Read moreRead less
Improving Outcomes For Older People With Musculoskeletal Foot Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$782,370.00
Summary
Foot pain affects one in four older Australians and leads to difficulty walking, loss of independence and reduced quality of life. The research outlined in this application will address this common but largely ignored health problem by improving our knowledge of the causes of foot pain, developing novel treatments for foot disorders incorporating specialised exercises, footwear and insoles, and testing the effectiveness of these interventions in clinical trials.