Introduction
All our researchers are motivated to help prevent falls and to improve the overall quality of life among population groups.
Research studies are looking for volunteers just like you. Both healthy volunteers and participants with specific health conditions are needed to help answer important questions impacting the health of our community adults. Join us to improve the health of others.
Ongoing Studies Recruiting
Dual-task perturbation assessment and training among older adults with mild cognitive impairment
Healthy older adults above 55 years old are needed for the study. You will undergo some balance and memory testing at the lab. If eligible you will also undergo balance testing on a specialized treadmill where you will receive treadmill induced slips and trips in a controlled and safe environment. The study aims to prevent falls by exercising your balance responses and memory. You will be paid for your participation. Call 312-355-3988 to know your eligibility.
Reactive balance training with neuromuscular electrical stimulation among people with stroke
Chronic stroke survivors above 18 years of age are needed for the study. You will undergo some balance and walking tests. You will undergo some balance training with one of two types of electrical stimulation for 6 weeks. You will be reimbursed for your time and efforts and at any point of time you are free to withdraw from the study. To know more details and test your eligibility for this study call 312-413-9772.
Functional Balance Training for improving symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis
Persons diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis above the age of 55 years are needed for this study. You will undergo some clinical tests to assess your physical and brain function. If eligible you will then undergo a training protocol for 4 months. Your physical and brain function will be tested again. You will be reimbursed for your time and participation. Please call us on 312-355-3988 to know your eligibility.
Home-based ABC training among older adults with stroke
Details coming soon.
Innovative Cognitive-Motor Training for Prevention of AD/ADRD: Leveraging Technology into CogXergaming
This Stage-II randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigates the immediate and sustained effects of a novel CogXergaming Training (CXT) paradigm for improving cognitive-motor function, physical activity, falls efficacy, and quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (OAwMCI), a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia (AD/ADRD).
Aging and Task-Specific Training to Reduce Falls
This randomized controlled trial examines the immediate and long-term effects of task-specific balance training for reducing environmental falls in at-risk, community-dwelling older adults. More than a third of older adults fall each year, often leading to serious injuries such as hip fractures and head injuries and to related conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Most of these falls happen when an environmental disturbance — a slip or a trip — causes a loss of balance while walking.
FRAT-ONE: Four-Domain Risk Assessment and Training: ONE Unified System for Senior Care
The project develops and validates three new detection models, integrates them into a cloud-connected mobile application that runs on both iOS and Android devices, and tests the enhanced system for usability and feasibility with older adults.
Home-Based Functional Balance Intervention (FBI) for Physical and Cognitive Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
This 2-arm, Phase-1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) establishes the feasibility and effect of a home-based Functional Balance Intervention (FBI) on physical function, cognitive function, and measures of daily living among people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). The program is delivered entirely from the participant’s home, with all assessment sessions conducted virtually over Zoom, so that people can take part regardless of how far they live from a clinic or research lab.
Effect of Muscle Fatigue and Vibration on Reactive Balance Following Slips and Trips in Young Adults
This cross-sectional laboratory study examines how motor and somatosensory disturbances of the lower-limb muscles affect the ability to recover balance after slip- and trip-like perturbations in healthy young adults. Using full-body motion capture together with muscle-activity recording (surface electromyography, EMG) and brain-wave recording (electroencephalography, EEG), the study captures what happens in the split second when a person reacts to an unexpected slip or trip