Spring 2018 Research Update
~by Derek Rutherford
Faculty and students of the School of Physiotherapy have had a busy winter and spring term in areas of research and knowledge dissemination. While journal publications and conference presentations locally and abroad have been accumulated this term (see below), we are most happy with our students. We celebrated the 34th Annual Physiotherapy Student Research Day, where students presented the work they believe will change the direction of our profession for a positive and evidence-based future. Congratulations to all the students in the graduating class of 2018 for a great day of research discussions and interest.
We have also had successes from students working out of the PT research laboratories. This term, students of the newly renovated Laboratory for Brain Recovery and Function have been very successful. PhD student Jack Solomon was awarded an NSERC Canadian Graduate Scholarship for his work examining the neural mechanisms underlying learning via motor imagery. PhD student Sarah Kraeutner was awarded a CIHR travel award to support her travel to the annual meeting of the Research in Imagery and Observation group (RIO) in Bielefeld, Germany, where she presented work related to assessments of MI ability. Sarah Kraeutner also received a $5000 grant from the Nova Scotia Health Authority for her project entitled, “Exploring the evolution of motor imagery-based learning: an fMRI pilot”. Honours student Dennis Brown won best undergrad poster presentation at the Crossroads Interdisciplinary Conference - his work focused on examining the role motor planning areas in sequence learning via motor imagery. In addition, honours student Mariam El-Serafi won the Karen Nicholson Award in Neuropsychology for the best Neuropsychology undergraduate presentation at the Science Atlantic Psychology Conference about the role of the parietal cortex in implicit vs. explicit learning via imagery.
This fall we are welcoming six MSc Rehabilitation Research students, including Theresa Gaughan, Stephanie Shewchuk, Anwaar Hariri, Carson Halliwell, Purva Trivedi and Jessica Lohnes, many of whom have secured external funding for their research endeavours. Welcome!!
Publications:
Solomon JP, Kraeutner SN, Boe SG. Process dissociation procedure improves assessment of motor imagery ability using implicit sequence learning. Imagination, Cognition & Personality, 2018 In-press.
Kraeutner SN, McWhinney SR, Solomon JP, Dithurbide L, Boe SG. Experience modulates motor imagery-based brain activity. European Journal of Neuroscience, 2018 In-press.
Boe SG, Kraeutner SN. Assessing motor imagery ability through imagery-based learning: an overview and introduction to MiScreen, a mobile app for imagery assessment. Imagination, Cognition & Personality, 2018 37(4): 430-447.
Kelly B, MacKay-Lyons M, Berryman S, Hyndman J. Wood E (2018): Casting Protocols Following BoNT-A Injections to Treat Spastic Hypertonia of theTriceps Surae in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Equinus Gait: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, DOI: 10.1080/01942638.2018.1471015
Rutherford, DJ, Moreside, J.M., Wong, I. (2018). Differences in hip joint biomechanics and muscle activation in individuals with femoroacetabular impingement compared with healthy asymptomatic individuals: Is level-ground gait analysis enough? Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. Link to Full Text
Quirk DA, Hubley-Kozey CL. Do older adults and those recovered from low back injury share common muscle activation adaptations? Journal of Motor Behaviour. 25:1-17, 2018.
Presentations:
Solomon JP, Kraeutner SN, Bardouille T, Boe SG. Motor execution and imagery are unique processes. Research in Action and Observation (RIO) meeting, Bielefeld, Germany, 2018.
Kraeutner SN, Eppler SN, Stratas A, Boe SG. Generate, maintain, manipulate? Linking assessments to dimensions of motor imagery. Research in Action and Observation (RIO) meeting, Bielefeld, Germany, 2018.
Boe, S. Mechanisms of motor imagery: a brain and behaviour perspective`- Invited speaker Research in Action and Observation (RIO) meeting, Bielefeld, Germany, 2018.
Costello KE, Astephen-Wilson JL, Hubley-Kozey CL. Differences in using a single week of accelerometer data versus averaging multiple weeks in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and asymptomatic controls: implications for cumulative load calculations. Osteoarthritis Research Society International 2018 World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI), Liverpool, United Kingdom
Hubley-Kozey CL, Costello KE, Hatfield GL, Ikeda, DM, Stanish WD, Astephen-Wilson JL. The association between knee joint muscle activation and knee joint moment patterns during walking in moderate medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: implications for intervention. Osteoarthritis Research Society International 2018 World Congress on Osteoarthritis (OARSI), United Kingdom, 2018.
Hubley-Kozey, C., Astephen-Wilson, J., Birmingham, T., Hunt, M., Maly, M., Rutherford, D., Moyer, R. GaitNET Osteoarthritis – Canada: Engaging researchers, clinicians and stakeholders to mobilize gait biomechanics research aimed at improving knee osteoarthritis management. Canadian Bone and Joint Conference, Western University, Ontario, Canada, May 2018.
Hubley-Kozey C., Astephen Wilson, J, Moyer, R., Rutherford, D., McDougall, J., Grandy, S., Urquhart, N., Stanish, WD. The effect of a 30 minute walk on gait mechanics, muscle activity and biomarkers in those with knee osteoarthritis classified with high and low risk gait patterns for progression. Canadian Bone and Joint Conference, Western University, Ontario, Canada, May 2018.
Schrijvers, J., Rutherford, D., Richards, R., van den Noort, J., van der Esch, M., Harlaar, J. Inter-laboratory comparison of gait waveforms in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Liverpool, England, April 2018.
Saleh, S., Stanish, W., Gillis, C., Hubley-Kozey, C., Rutherford. D. The effect of knee joint effusion on gait mechanics and muscle activations in moderate knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Liverpool, England, April 2018.
Baker, M., Stanish, W., Urquhart, H., Rutherford, D. The impact of self-reported knee joint instability on walking mechanics in individuals with moderate knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Liverpool, England, April 2018.
Weeks, L., Earl, M. and Aubrecht, K., “From Surviving to Thriving: Younger Adults in Long Term Care”. Nova Scotia Health Authority Education Workshop, Halifax, NS. Feb 7, 2018.
Saleh, S (Supervisor: Rutherford, D). Comparison between clinical evaluation and ultrasonography in detecting knee swelling in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. PREP (Professional and Research Education Program) Graduate Student Research Day, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, May, 2018
Baker, M. (Supervisor, Rutherford, D). The KNee Osteoarthritis Walking Score: A clinical evaluation tool for knee osteoarthritis. Department of Surgery Research Day, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, April, 2018
Pilot Study
Diane Mackenzie, (Principal Investigator), David Westwood, Heather Neyedli, Brenda Merritt, Gail Creaser, Kim Sponagle, Pharmacy; Stephen Miller, Medicine; Gordont Gubitz, Kim Hebert, Ellen Hickey, Lori Diturbide, Alan Kingstone, and Leanne Picketts. Situational awareness and interprofessional decision-making in collaborative stroke care simulations: a pilot study. Dalhousie University. Physiotherapy students participated in each of the initial data collection events of this study about students’ interprofessional decision-making for stroke care in March and May 2018.