Research Elissa Embrechts

Abstract

Falls among older adults represent a pressing public health concern, and often result from the interaction of intrinsic capacities, e.g. decreased visual abilities, with complex environments, e.g. busy streets. These environments demand individuals to effectively track moving objects using their gaze for safe navigation. In this project, I propose that a better understanding of gaze control, its contributing factors, and its role in fall risk, is crucial for the development of more accurate fall prediction models. Current research on fall prediction occurs in controlled laboratory settings and employs simple tasks without ecological validity that neglect the role of gaze control in real-life navigation. Despite the link between gaze control and known fall risk factors (e.g. sensory and cognitive deficits and decreased postural control), the integration of these functions for ensuring gaze control remains unknown. In this project I position gaze control as a proxy to understanding sensory, cognitive, and motor functioning in relation to falls in older adults. Additionally, I hypothesize that by integrating gaze control in current fall prediction models, we can more accurately predict the likelihood of falls. My study represents an inventive yet challenging paradigm that significantly advances prior methodologies, overcoming technological limitations by leveraging Augmented Reality tools to simulate realistic but standardized tasks while concurrently tracking gaze control.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Hallemans Ann
• Co-promoter: De Hertogh Willem
• Fellow: Embrechts Elissa

Research team(s)

• Movement Antwerp (MOVANT)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Telerehabilitation and eHealth, albeit providing novel opportunities and advantages for rehabilitation and physiotherapy programs, still pose many challenges at societal, technological and individual levels. With this postdoc challenge we aim to recruit a candidate proficient in tackling these challenges at least at one of three levels: 1) societal: providing evidence of (cost-)effectiveness of telerehabilitation and eHealth in physiotherapy through large-scale intervention trials; 2) technological: advancing the technical level of eHealth in physiotherapy by research on technology and the inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) for using collected patient data in clinical decision making; 3) individual: monitoring and/or alleviating barriers by researching emotions, cognitions, and behavior in different contexts to explain differences in outcome. By using innovative recruitment strategies (including triggering recruitment videos, and organization of a hackathon), MOVANT aims to recruit a high potential postdoc candidate to apply for an FWO postdoctoral fellowship and/or an MSCA-PF. The candidate will be supported by a promotor and a mentor team, consisting of several ZAP colleagues and the MOVANT research coordinator.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Meeus Mira
• Co-promoter: Gebruers Nick
• Co-promoter: Roussel Nathalie
• Fellow: Embrechts Elissa

Research team(s)

• Movement Antwerp (MOVANT)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Visuospatial neglect (VSN) is a frequent post-stroke neuropsychological cognitive disorder which leaves patients with impaired or even lost awareness for stimuli and/or events on the contralesional hemispace. VSN is reported to occur in 30-70% of right-brain strokes and 20-60% of left-brain strokes. Although spontaneous neurological recovery of VSN occurs in most patients within the first 10-12 weeks post-stroke, 20-40% of patients with VSN still show symptoms a year-post stroke. The latter might have important consequences, as VSN is negatively associated with the motor recovery of the upper limb and independence during activities of daily living (ADL). Although recovery of gait is a primary goal within stroke rehabilitation, little is known about the impact of VSN on the true motor recovery of the lower limbs and on motor performance in general (as measured by gait, balance control and truncal function). As this impact is still unknown, it is difficult for clinicians to provide accurate rehabilitation strategies. Therefore, it is important to unravel the interaction between VSN on one hand and motor recovery and motor performance on the other hand. This will give us more insights in the interplay between spatially-oriented cognitive processes and motor functioning, therefore providing a possible framework for the development of new innovative rehabilitation strategies. The presence of an interaction between cognition (e.g. VSN) and motor function raises the question whether training one aspect can have carry-over effects to the other. A very relevant question is thus whether spatial retraining, designed to enhance VSN, can indirectly stimulate the recovery of motor function and performance as well. In this four-year project, we will address three main research objectives 1) Investigating the impact of VSN on true motor recovery of the lower limbs 2) Investigating the impact of VSN on motor performance as measured by gait, balance control, truncal function 3) Investigating the carry-over effects of spatial retraining on true motor recovery of the lower limbs and motor performance

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Saeys Wim
• Fellow: Embrechts Elissa

Research team(s)

• Movement Antwerp (MOVANT)

Project type(s)

• Research Project