Neurological Rehabilitation
Research on motor control and on stroke recovery and rehabilitation are ongoing, with several projects in collaboration with the Motor Performance Laboratory within the Department of Neurology. Specific studies are examining the effects of earlier intervention in motor recovery after stroke, and the use of robotic devices to facilitate motor recovery after stroke.
Department faculty are studying gait abnormalities and exercise interventions in individuals with Huntington’s disease and other movement disorders. Collaborative research in developing new assistive devices for individuals with neuromuscular diseases is also ongoing.
Other faculty projects span investigation of motor control in dancers to fall risk assessment in the elderly.
Cardiopulmonary and Exercise Physiology
Research in cardiopulmonary and exercise physiology is under the direction of Dr. Matthew Bartels, and includes close collaboration from Dr. Ronald DeMeersman (primary appointment in Teachers College), and faculty in multiple other departments, such as Pulmonary Medicine and Cardiology. Facilities include a muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) laboratory, and an OptoElectronicPlethysmography laboratory, a new technique for evaluation of pulmonary physiology and the mechanics of breathing. Specific projects are examining vascular reactivity and vascular inflammation in COPD, chemoreceptor sensitivity, the effects of circadian rhythms on hypertension, psychophysiological responses to stress, autonomic responses in Parkinson's Disease during exercise, and the effects of accupuncture on heart rate and blood pressure control.
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Projects include preventing anterior cruciate ligament injuries in pre-pubescent girls, and examining the role of trunk strength in the development of back pain in pregnant and post-partum women.
Pediatric Rehabilitation
Pediatric rehabilitation research is examining the impact of physical conditioning on
gross motor skills, physical function and quality of life in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and the development of standardized tests and measures to enhance the detection of motor delay in infants and children.
