About the Project
The aim of this studentship is to study the movement coordination strategies used to recover from balance perturbations and identify training practices to improve balance abilities and reduce the risk of falls.
The research will target a focal theme of health and wellbeing for National Health systems, and will endeavour to combine movement and coordination variability measures with computer simulation modelling.
The specific objectives of the research programme will include:
- to perform a movement coordination analysis of how different populations recover from tripping, and adapt to perturbations
- to understand movement coordination and recovery strategies to avoid a fall
- to identify how different training interventions can affect fall avoidance capacity.
The successful applicant will gain expertise in a number of biomechanics, motor control, and computer simulation techniques and will also have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues of Dr Preatoni and Dr Trewartha in and outside the University of Bath.
Funding Notes
We consider applications from those who:
- are happy to compete for University and Graduate School funding (see URSA call at http://www.bath.ac.uk/hss/graduate-school/research-programmes/funding), or
- obtain external funding.
Funding is difficult to obtain and highly competitive. You are responsible for researching sources of funding early (in some cases up to 12 months in advance) and applying (in conjunction with your agreed supervisor) for as many as possible.
This PhD opportunity is also available to self-funded students.
Applications must be made through the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate School: http://www.bath.ac.uk/hss/graduate-school/research-programmes/how-to-apply
References
Preatoni, E., Hamill, J., Harrison, A.J., Hayes, K., Van Emmerik, R.E.A., Wilson, C., Rodano, R. (2013). Movement variability and skills monitoring in sports. Sports Biomechanics, 12(2), 69-92.
Barrett, R.S., Carty, C.P., Lichtwark, G.A., Trewartha, G., Lloyd, D.G. & Graham, D.H. (2014). Modelling and simulation of recovery from forward loss of balance in older adults. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress of Biomechanics, July 6-11, Boston, USA.
Roos, P.E., McGuigan, M.P. & Trewartha, G. (2010). The role of strategy selection, limb force capacity and limb positioning in successful trip recovery. Clinical Biomechanics, 25(9), 873-878.
Roos, P.E., McGuigan, M.P. & Kerwin, D.G. Trewartha G (2008). The role of arm movements in early trip recovery in younger and older adults. Gait & Posture, 27, 352-356.
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