Postdoctoral Fellow
(02) 9399 1024
Dr Pelicioni is an early career researcher who undertakes interdisciplinary research at the intersection of physiotherapy, medical science and public health, focused on falls in older people and people with neurological disorders. His fields of expertise are: (i) developing and optimising clinical tools for assessments and neurorehabilitation; (ii) investigating the effects of physical exercise on falls prevention; (iii) understanding the mechanisms of falls; (iv) examining motor control and biomechanics involved with gait and balance control; (v) understanding the functionality of healthy and pathological brains. Dr Pelicioni is a postdoctoral fellow working on a research study to test eHealth and smart garment technologies to prevent falls in people with Parkinson’s disease.
A randomised controlled trial to reduce the risk of falling in people with Parkinson’s disease.
View the clinical trial page for more information and to express interest in volunteering for the study.
An engaging self-managed neuro-rehabilitation program using eHealth technologies to improve mobility and enhance independence in people with Parkinson’s disease:
Parkinson’s disease is a multi-systems neurodegenerative disease with the severity of clinical symptoms (including postural instability, gait dysfunction an falls). With the population aging, the number of people affected by Parkinson’s disease is expected to double every 25 years presenting an increasing burden on health service and society as a whole. Falls are a common and devastating event in individuals with Parkinson’s disease and often precipitated by excessive gait variability, postural instability and freezing of gait.
Visual, attentional, haptic and auditory stimuli have been used to improve gait dysfunction in people with Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this project is to develop and evaluate a self-managed program using mHealth technology to improve mobility in people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Dr Matthew Brodie was awarded a Michael & Elizabeth Gilbert Scholarship in Parkinson’s Disease Research.
LINDA ROYLANCE
Executive Assistant
: +612 9399 1124
: l.roylance@neura.edu.au
JESSICA TURNER Research Assistant
JOANNE LO Research Assistant
CAMERON HICKS
Research Assistant
: 9399 1209
: c.hicks@neura.edu.au
DANIELA MEINRATH Masters student
JOANA CAETANO PhD student
MAYNA RATANAPONGLEKA Research Assistant
SARAH LUDOWICI
Research Assistant
: 9399 1422
: s.ludowici@neura.edu.au
GARTH MCINERNEY
Research Assistant
: 9399 1008
: g.mcinerney@neura.edu.au
JESSICA CHOW
Research Assistant
: 9399 1057
: j.chow@neura.edu.au
CARLY CHAPLIN Research Assistant : c.chaplin@neura.edu.au
LILLIAN MILES Research Assistant
People with the PD PIGD subtype exhibit impaired gait stability that is not improved and frequently worsened by levodopa. New non-pharmaceutical approaches, technological (e.g. cueing) or exercise-based (e.g. balance training) are required to improve or compensate for mediolateral gait instability in this subtype and ultimately prevent falls.
Impaired gait adaptability is associated with high risk of falls in older adults. Reduced executive function, increased concern about falling and weaker quadriceps strength contribute significantly to this relationship. Training gait adaptability directly, as well as addressing the above mediators through cognitive, behavioural and physical training may maximise fall prevention efficacy.
People with the PD PIGD subtype exhibit impaired gait stability that is not improved and frequently worsened by levodopa. New non-pharmaceutical approaches, technological (e.g. cueing) or exercise-based (e.g. balance training) are required to improve or compensate for mediolateral gait instability in this subtype and ultimately prevent falls.