MOTOR CONTROL LABORATORY

Older adults have been shown to overestimate locomotor and balance skills. This study aims to understand whether older adults' self-reported perception of their hand function is accurately captured by objective measures of hand strength and dexterity. Preliminary results indicate the majority of older adults believed their hand function to be better than the average person their age. However, objective measures of hand function indicate that at least half of our sample have declines in strength and/or dexterity. (Undergraduate Honors Project)

There exists a need for remotely-delivered assessment protocols that capture upper limb movements and balance control as these greatly influence activities of daily living. In particular, assessment of hand function in healthy, older adults has been largely ignored despite known declines in strength and dexterity with aging. We are currently conducting a feasibility study comparing telehealth-based functional assessments with in person, laboratory-based assessments. (Doctoral dissertation work)

Previous research has shown there exists a need for hand function assessment in healthy, older adults due to known declines in dexterity and strength. Current assessments are generally high cost and not accessible outside of clinical settings. To mitigate the cost-barrier faced by individuals, we are looking at the validation of alternative, lower cost, commercially available dexterity and grip strength devices against their clinical, gold-standard counterparts. 

(Undergraduate Research)