Abstract

Researchers have spent decades studying rehabilitation interventions for improving mobility, balance, and upper limb function for people with stroke and other neurological disorders. Trial outcomes are measured at the functional capacity level, where capacity is defined as what a person is capable of doing in the structured environment of the clinic or laboratory. It has long been assumed that improvements in capacity result in improvements in real-world performance, where performance is defined as what a person actually does in daily life, outside of the clinic or laboratory. This talk will discuss how we use wearable sensors to capture critical aspects of human movement, some of the surprising findings that arise from measuring movement in daily life, and future directions for the field. Please come for a lively and intellectually-stimulating discussion.

Biography

Dr. Lang is a Professor of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Neurology, and Associate Director for the Movement Science PhD Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis MO, USA. She received her physical therapy degree from the University of Vermont in 1993, her PhD in Movement Science from Washington University in 2001, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester between 2001 and 2004. Her accomplishments have earned her the title of fellow for both the American Society for NeuroRehabilitaiton (ASNR) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Dr. Lang directs the Neurorehabilitation Research Laboratory where efforts are targeted toward the development of effective and efficient, individualized rehabilitation for people with stroke and other neurological injuries. Numerous studies are focused on characterizing neurobehavioral changes over the course of stroke recovery, developing new and optimizing current motor interventions, and improving clinical practice. The interdisciplinary, interactive laboratory environment promotes collaborations within and outside the lab with scientists and clinicians, resulting in a productive, successful research program. She provides research training to PhD students, postdocs, and junior faculty members. Continuous funding from the NIH has supported her research efforts since 2005.

Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xkngSiwiQ3atiCWefAWhGg