Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research
The Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research conducts research to investigate changes in impairments, activities, and participation, particularly relating to balance and gait, that occur with age, pathology or that are acquired through injury.
Client-centred focus areas of the team include:
- Older adults (healthy, fallers)
- People with neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
- Adults with metabolic disease (e.g. diabetes) and musculoskeletal disorders (hip osteoarthritis, neck pain
Losing touch: Exploring the neurophysiological effects of bionic sensory insole technology for balance rehabilitation.
The aim of this project is to engineer a state-of-the-art shoe insole, designed to stimulate foot skin sensors, to improve how the muscles and nerves work to keep the body upright. Through patient testing of the insole technology, the project will generate knowledge to develop an efficient balance rehabilitation device for people with neuropathy.
Find out more about the project
ULTECH: Using technology to capture quality of movement and use of the upper limb after stroke.
After stroke, recovery of arm movement can be slow and difficult to measure, making it difficult for stroke survivors and the therapists who work them to see the impact of their treatment. The aim of this project is to improve the way we assess recovery of arm movement after stroke, so that small improvements can be measured.
View the ULTECH research project
VIBRANT
Three in five older adults aged over 60 have a hearing loss and the risk of falling for older adults is higher if they have a hearing loss. Researchers at The University of Queensland are conducting a study that will test if a device that gives feedback on body position can improve balance and stability.
UPLIFT: A Phase lla multicentre umbrella trial of integrated UPper limb and Language Impairment and Functional Training (UPLIFT) after stroke
1 in 6 people living with stroke have difficulty with both arm and communication functions. The purpose of this trial is to test a new intensive rehabilitation program that trains arm movement and communication together. The UPLIFT trial is a multicentre research project with therapy hubs located in Brisbane, Townsville, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide.
Access to Physiotherapy for patients with Parkinson’s Disease attending the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Movement Disorders Clinic
Physiotherapy assessment and intervention is critical for maintaining physical function and reducing the risk of falls for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is unclear if individuals with PD who are clients of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital movement disorders clinic, are accessing sufficient, appropriate, and timely physiotherapy. The aims of this study were to determine rates of referral to, and uptake of, physiotherapy services for individuals with PD, and to identify barriers and enablers to accessing physiotherapy services for individuals with PD. Results of this project will guide the development of strategies to improve referral to and uptake of physiotherapy for clients of the RBWH movement disorders clinic.
Project led by Beth Cunningham with investigators Lindsay Hepnar, and Dr Peter Window (Physiotherapy dept RBWH)
A/Prof John O’Sullivan, Dr Rob Adam, Dr Micheal Katz, Dr Shayani Upadhyay and Dr Jasmine De Oliveira (Neurology Department, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital), Professor Sandra Brauer and Dr Robyn Lamont
Centre Co-Directors:
Professor Sandra Brauer, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Professor Brauer is the Director of the Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research whose research aims to improve function and participation in people with neurological disorders, in particular stroke and Parkinson’s disease, with physical activity, upper limb function and technology key areas of focus.
Dr Anna Hatton, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr Hatton is Co-Director of the Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research whose focus is to understand the role of sensory information for balance and gait in healthy and pathological groups, including diabetes and multiple sclerosis. In partnership with industry, the team seeks to develop innovative smart wearables, such as footwear devices, to enhance active living in a wide range of populations.
UQ Academic Staff/ Postdoctoral Researchers
- Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences/School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Dr Robyn Lamont, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Dr Niru Mahendran, SHRS/Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS)
- Associate Professor Martin Sale, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Dr Alejandro Melendez-Calderon, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Dr Wolbert van den Hoorn, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Dr Katrina Williams, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Research assistants
- Pippa Evans
- Rebecca Gorwyn
- Katrina Kemp
- Joey Mabin
- Chris Mackay
- Neelam Nayak
Physiotherapy clinicians
HDR Students
| Candidate | Degree | Supervision | Project Title/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neelam Nayak | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer, Dr Niru Mahendran | Factors contributing to successful adoption of physical activity and walking after stroke |
| Samantha Robinson | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer | The impact of a clinically-led Electronic Medical Record (EMR) enhancement for stroke on interprofessional practice and data analytics |
| Cristina Levy | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer | Early biomarkers of upper limb function and mobility recovery post stroke |
| Megan Trotman | PhD | Dr Anna Hatton | Exploring the neurophysiological effects of vibrotexture shoe insoles for balance rehabilitation in adults with foot sensory loss. |
| Julia Wood | PhD | Associate Professor Martin Sale | Sleep, plasticity, and non-invasive brain stimulation |
| Asher Geffen | PhD | Associate Professor Martin Sale | How do neural oscillations influence cortical excitability? |
| Upendranatha Potturi | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer, Dr Niru Mahendran | Helping people with stroke return to meaningful and healthy lives early after stroke |
| Marina Mahafza | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer | Hearing aids, vibrotactile neurofeedback and balance in older adults with hearing impairment |
| Jacinta Foster | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer Dr Katrina Williams | The effect of vibrotactile neuro feedback training on postural stability and vestibular function in older adults with hearing loss |
| Tahlia Alsop | PhD | Professor Sandra Brauer Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall | Movement behaviours of adults in the inpatient setting |
Stephen West-Newman | PhD | Associate Professor Martin Sale | Exploring the experiences of clinical based learning and transition to clinical practice for physiotherapy students from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background with a view to informing better student, university and clinical placement practices |
| Dan Innes | PhD | Dr Katrina Williams | Implementing visual rehabilitation for stroke and brain injury survivors |
Honorary Appointments
- Associate Prof Kate Hayward, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
International Collaborators
- Prof Sivakumar Balasubramanian, Christian Medical College Vellore, India
- Professor James Brownjohn, University of Exeter, UK
- Professor Richard Carson, School of Psychology & Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Dr Thomas Cattagni, University of Nantes, France
- Dr Lay Fong Chin, Tan Tok Seng Hospital, Singapore
- Professor François Hug, University of Côte d'Azur, France
- Dr Ingrid Rosbergen, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
- Dr Bernadine Teng, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
- Dr Gavin Wylie, Dundee University, UK
National Collaborators
- Emeritus Professor Louise Ada, School of Physiotherapy, University of Sydney
- Associate Professor Ruth Barker, School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehab Sci, James Cook University
- Associate Professor Ingvars Birzneiks, University of New South Wales, Sydney
- Dr Daniel Boulton, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney
- Professor Tracy Comans, School of Population Health, Griffith University
- Dr Rohan Grimley, Research Director of Sunshine Coast University Hospital
- Dr Sheree Hurn, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane
- Professor Graham Kerr, School of Exercise & Nutrition Science, The Queensland University of Technology
- Professor Suzanne Kuys, School of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University
- Dr Jayishni Maharaj, Griffith University, Gold Coast
- Professor Steven McPhail- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation, The Queensland University of Technology
- Dr Camila Shirota, Disability and Rehabilitation, Griffith University
- Dr Paul Varghese, Director GARU, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane
The University of Queensland
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Collaborators
- Dr Lisa Anemaat – Speech Pathology
- Dr Sonia Brownsett – Speech Pathology
- Professor David Copland- Speech Pathology
- Professor Piers Dawes – Audiology
- Dr Emmah Doig – Occupational Therapy
- Professor Jenny Fleming – Occupational Therapy
- Dr Hannah Gullo- Occupational Therapy
- Professor Louise Hickson – Audiology
- Professor Paul Hodges- Physiotherapy
- Dr Melanie Hoyle – Occupational Therapy
- Associate Professor Asad Khan – School Statistician
- Associate Professor Jacki Liddle – Occupational Therapy
- Dr Megan Ross, Physiotherapy
- Professor Trevor Russell – Physiotherapy
- Dr Dion Scott – Principal Scientific Officer
- Associate Professor Michelle Smith - Physiotherapy
- Dr Barbra Timmer – Audiology
- Dr Julia Treleaven- Physiotherapy
- Emeritus Professor Bill Vicenzino - Physiotherapy
- Associate Professor Wayne Wilson – Audiology
Inter-School/Faculty Collaborators
- Professor Andrew Burton Jones, School of Business
- Professor Andy Cresswell, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Professor Genevieve Healy, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Dr David Lloyd, Queensland Brain Institute
- Associate Professor John O’Sullivan, School of Medicine
- Associate Professor Kylie Tucker, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Professor Sean Tweedy, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Dr Liz Winkler, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Associate Professor Andrew Wong, UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Industry Partners
Enquiries
Centre for Neurorehabilitation, Ageing and Balance Research
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
The University of Queensland
St Lucia, Qld, 4072