Repetitive pairing of stimuli to the motor cortex and peripheral nerves supplying muscles can induce plasticity at synapses between nerve cells that control voluntary muscle activity. This technique has therapeutic potential for enhancing activity at synapses that lie within the spinal cord and transmit commands from the brain to the […]
The brain cannot properly control the movement of the body without knowing something about its size. However, the body does not have receptors to signal size directly, the brain has to work it out using information from multiple senses (e.g. touch, vision, proprioception) and then store it in body “maps” […]
Stroke can impair motor and/or sensory systems in very different ways depending on the individual (Teasell & Hussein, 2013). Currently, many neurological measures of the functional consequences of stroke use very coarse scales and/or rely of the subjective judgements of clinicians (Scott & Dukelow, 2011). In our lab we are […]
Following a stroke or spinal cord injury some people develop stiff joints, sometimes referred to as contracture. It is not well understood why contractures develop. Also, it is not clear whether they result from changes in the muscle or the tendon, which is why researchers and clinicians are very interested […]
Awareness of our physical ability is critically important when we decide on what actions to take. Can I reach that far?, Can I walk on that path?, Can I step that high? This is particularly important for older people whose physical function declines with age and who are at increased […]
We have all experienced the effects of muscle fatigue. Whether carrying groceries or luggage that extra bit further, playing sport or hitting it hard at the gym. For people with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease just going to collect the mail can be […]
It is well demonstrated that a single bout of exercise can cause short-term reductions in pain, a phenomenon referred to as exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) (Naugle et al. 2012). However, the effect of chronic exercise training on pain is less clear, as are the mechanisms that mediate EIH. A greater understanding […]
Low concentrations of vitamin D have been associated with increased mortality in observational studies in humans, but a cause-and-effect link has been difficult to pin down. This new research published in the British Medical Journal has used a novel approach in which the genetic variants in DHCR7 and CYP2R1 have […]
The human upper airway has many important physiological functions including speech, swallowing and breathing. The human tongue forms an important part of the upper airway. It is made up of different muscles with origins both within and external to the tongue. Among these, the genioglossus (GG) is the largest dilator […]
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling condition that causes motor impairment. It is common after wrist fracture. Little is known about the epidemiology of CRPS and there has been very little research into prevention and treatment of CRPS. We sought to (a) determine the incidence of CRPS, and […]
