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 […]
Across the animal kingdom, muscles adapt to the exercise that they perform. They can do this by changing their intrinsic capacity to generate force as well as changing their actual size, both the cross-sectional area of the muscle and the length of the muscle (e.g. Goldspink, 1985; Lynn & Morgan, […]
Professor Lord’s research aims to enhance understanding of human balance and involves investigations of sensory and motor contributions, behavioural influences, environmental factors, as well as clinical populations and settings. Current studies are designed to investigate the physiology and biomechanics of standing, walking and stepping reactions. Fall risk factors and strategies […]
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 […]
Professor Herbert’s research examines the mechanisms of contracture in human muscles using novel biomechanical methods. He also conducts epidemiological studies to quantify the prevalence and incidence of contracture, predict people who are most likely to develop contracture, and we conduct clinical trials to investigate the effectiveness of interventions designed to […]
“New study reveals the average height of Australian adults is 100 cm… …when measured with a metre stick.” While the flaw in this fictitious study is easy to address, selecting an appropriate measurement tool to capture something as complex as motor impairment is not so easy. Many health conditions […]
The personal health and economic burden of physical inactivity is receiving justifiably growing recognition. This burden may be greatest for the elderly where the gap between recommended levels of physical activity and actual activity is most pronounced. This gap was recently highlighted in a national analysis of Australian health (Australia’s […]
The case for ‘personalized medicine’ is promulgated more and more, but one difficulty is that what the term means is often unclear. To some it means no more than a personal appraisal by your local medical practitioner but to others it means the sequencing of your genome in whole or […]
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 […]
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are generally less active than the general population which may lead to deconditioning that further reduces functional abilities. Regular exercise is beneficial for managing many MS symptoms and reversing deconditioning due to inactivity (Dalgas U, Stenager E, Ingemann-Hansen 2008). However, persons with advanced MS may […]
