TASMC has developed unique expertise in movement disorders, which focuses on research of genetic and developmental disorders in the young, and on movement disorders in the aging population.

A. Dana Gait Laboratory at the Pediatric Hospital

 The lab is equipped with hardware and software to meet a wide range of applications to gait and movement analysis, rehabilitation, biomechanics, neurosciences, sport, ergonomics, virtual reality and new ideas.

Applications:

Gait analysis - to quantify a patient's gait and assist in diagnosis and identification of the best course of treatment.

Rehabilitation - to assess the success of surgical intervention or pharmaceutical treatments (pre- and post-treatment comparison), and aid in reducing rehabilitation time.

Staff:

The staff consists of a team made up of various disciplines: Medical Doctors, researchers with PhD degree, Physical Therapists, and Computers Engineer; all have previous training and in-depth knowledge in Gait Analysis.

For further information please contact Prof. Shlomo Weintraub, or danagait@tasmc.health.gov.il.

B. Gait Dynamics & Neurodynamics in the Movement Disorders Unit

Using tools from biomedical engineering and statistical physics, our research efforts focus on aging, especially gait dynamics and falling in the elderly; the analysis of normal and pathophysiological control mechanisms; the study of nonlinear dynamics in physiology; the effects of expectations, stereotypes, and beliefs on function and physiology; and the development of new methods for clinical monitoring.

A common theme is the development and application of engineering tools to the study of physiological, biomedical, and clinical problems.

A major focus is on the study of gait dynamics, instability, and fall risk. Increased gait instability, marked unsteadiness and inconsistency from one stride to the next, are common in many older adults, even in the absence of overt disease, and in many patient populations.

Gait instability predisposes individuals to falls and contributes to changes in neuro-psychological and functional status, including the fear of falling, decreased confidence, and self-imposed mobility restrictions.

Marked gait instability may also detract from quality of life, and lead to functional dependence and institutionalization.

Laboratory resources include ambulatory monitoring equipment, gait analysis systems, dynamometry, treadmill with computer-controlled weight bearing, and custom software for time series and fractal analysis.

Our research team also works closely with a multi-disciplinary clinical team.

The biggest resource may be our patient population.

In our clinical practice, we treat and follow thousands of patients with movement disorders and gait and balance problems.

Many of these patients are active, willing participants in our research efforts, who provide important feedback on what is needed and what works.

For additional information, contact:

Dr. Nir Giladi

ngiladi@tasmc.health.gov.ilor

Dr. Jeff Hausdorff

jhausdorff@yahoo.com