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The focus of the work in this lab is directed towards the understanding of neuromusculoskeletal control during active movement in persons with brain injury. In particular, studies seek to understand the control mechanisms underlying locomotor behavior in persons with post-stroke hemiplegia. Related to this objective, the work is attempting to understand underlying mechanisms of poor control and to develop quantitative evaluation and intervention tools for the amelioration of locomotor deficits post-stroke. The experimental approach includes measurement of electrical muscle activity, lower limb force and movement trajectories, and electro-physiological reflex testing during cyclical locomotor movements such as walking and pedaling. | |
  | Current projects with post-stroke populations involve examination of spinal reflex modulation during locomotion, the study of motor adaptation to specific biomechanical constraints, and the development of a new framework for identifying specific locomotor impairments that result in walking dysfunction. Past and current funding sources include NIH, NIDRR, VA, and Foundation for Physical Therapy. The research in this lab investigates the mechanisms that underly walking difficulties in persons with post-stroke hemiplegia. The major causes of walking difficulty post-stroke are muscle weakness, poor limb loading capability, cardiovascular fitness decline, slowness of movement, poor balance, and poor rhythmic control of muscle activity. Together, these functional impairments combine to make walking a hazardous task and they require a variety of therapeutic strategies to improve safety and functionality when a person walks. To this end, our research uses a novel approach to investigating these functional impairments and to develop therapeutic interventions that improve walking ability. We have developed a laboratory apparatus, based on a bicycle ergometer, that allows the systematic study of functional impairments post-stroke. This device enables the researcher to measure, during the pedaling task, weakness in paretic muscles, limb loading capability, speed of movement, lateral balance stability, and rhythmic muscle activity. Several studies have been completed that have shown the importance of addressing each of these impairments during the retraining of walking ability. |
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