News and Events

October 2005

Dunning Receives 4 Year Grant to Study Walking After Stroke

Lab Member Kari Dunning, PhD, PT has been awarded a 4 year grant from the American Heart Association to study the effectiveness of a new, game based modality to improve ambulation in stroke patients. This marks the second time in 2 years that a lab member has received substantive, long term funding from this organization in as many years.

"This study is novel and could change the way that leg rehabilitation is delivered," notes Dr. Dunning, an Assitant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at The University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health. "Conventional therapy for the leg focuses on moving the leg through range of motion or having patients do weight bearing. These, and other affected leg therapies, though, have been shown less effective, and they can't be effectively and safely practiced at home. More importantly, many conventional physical therapy regimens are not motivating to patients."

The study will recruit stroke patients who experienced a stroke more than a year ago, and who have difficulty with walking and, specifically, with moving the ankle. Notes Dunning, this (lack of ankle movement control) is a major problem, as it can cause the foot to drag or drop during walking, and frequently causes falls." The study will provide patients with motivating rehabilitation in which they play a video game that "reteaches" the patient how to actively move the ankle again. All patients are supervised by physical therapists, who monitor patients' progress, and will make the games more challenging as patients improve. "This will also keep things motivating and challenging for patients, but the game-based nature of the rehabilitation will still be there," notes Dunning.

The study is slated to start in July, 2006, and information will be available at www.rehablab.org under the link, "Ongoing Studies."