Longitudinal Head Injury Outcome Study
Principal Investigator: Professor Jennie Ponsford
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability in those aged under 30. If severe, it can cause physical, cognitive, behavioural and emotional changes that effect the capacity to live independently, return to work or study, engage in recreational activities and make or sustain relationships. This can result in social isolation, poor self-esteem, anxiety and depression which evolve over many years. This study, running since 1995, documents long-term outcome and the needs of TBI patients, as a basis for rehabilitation programs and ongoing service provision.
Cognition, Awareness & Psychosocial Functioning Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Their Evolution and Biological Underpinnings
Principal Investigator: Professor Jennie Ponsford
This project proposes to follow up participants with traumatic brain injury (TBI) over the first year after their accident, examining the relationship between three key variables: cognition, awareness, and organic brain changes. It aims to examine the recovery of cognition, to examine changes in the brain using MRI, to investigate the development of awareness of injury-related changes and its sub-types and to examine the role that biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors play in predicting the changing course of cognition, awareness, and the brain structures over the first year of post-injury.
Safer Roads to Recovery: Assessing Readiness for Driving after TBI
Principal Investigator: Professor Jennie Ponsford
More than two-thirds of traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors return to driving. Despite this, limited research investigating driving performance following TBI has been conducted. The aims of this study are to examine the nature and causes of driving difficulties following TBI as a basis for developing more reliable and valid assessment procedures for readiness to return to driving and thereby improving the safety of drivers with TBI.
Long Term Impact of TBI in Women
Principal Investigator: Professor Jennie Ponsford
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and the majority of TBIs (~60-70%) are sustained by men. Little research has been directed toward the unique female experience of TBI. The aim of this international study is to assess the impact of TBI on women’s reproductive health (menstruation, conception, age at time of menopause, frequency and severity of menopause) compared to trauma control subjects without a TBI.
Development of Guidelines for Return to Driving Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Principal Investigator: Ms Pamela Ross
The aim of this study is to improve knowledge about return to driving following traumatic brain injury (TBI), in order to maximise road safety and quality of rehabilitation care for this group of individuals. This will be achieved by reviewing the outcomes of all of the Occupational Therapy Driver Assessments conducted on patients with a TBI at Epworth Rehabilitation over the last 10 years.
Investigating the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to evaluate neuroplastic changes underpinning rehabilitation after acquired brain injury (ABI)
Principal Investigators: Dr Alan Pearce, Professor John Olver
The past decade has produced greater insights into the neuroplastic changes that underpin recovery from acquired brain injury(ABI). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, painless and safe technique that is used to investigate the human nervous system. This study investigates the relationship between neuroplastic changes and functional outcomes following botulinum toxin injection. It aims to gain a better understanding of the neuroplastic adaptations that occur as a result of rehabilitation so that therapeutic interventions may be better targeted for improved rehabilitation outcomes.
Evaluation of strength training exercises for retraining gait following brain injury
Principal Investigator: Dr Gavin Williams
Strength training is a major part of the rehabilitation programs provided to patients with neurological conditions, such as stroke or brain injury. The rationale for strength training is to improve a patient’s ability to generate muscle force so they can become more independent in daily activities. Several systematic reviews have demonstrated that despite good efficacy for strengthening exercises resulting in improved muscle force generation, little evidence exists suggesting a concurrent improvement in the ability to walk. The aim of this project is to evaluate the task specificity of the strengthening exercises routinely prescribed in physiotherapeutic practice.
Does physical ability influence the activity levels of people with traumatic brain injury when they are discharged home from hospital?
Principal Investigator: Dr Gavin Williams
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability for adolescents and young adults. Physical mobility limitations are one of the most common persisting problems following a moderate to severe TBI and have been linked with difficulties in community mobility, community integration, return to work and participation in leisure activities. Research in this area predominantly involves participants who are more than one year post initial TBI. There is limited research available about the period of transition between hospital and home for people with TBI. Evidence indicates that it is an emotionally difficult time for these individuals and their families, but the impact of physical mobility limitations during this transition phase has not been investigated. The main aims of this project are to determine the activity levels of people with TBI immediately prior to and following discharge from hospital, and identify the predictors for community mobility in the early stages post discharge home from hospital. The results of this project will inform clinical practice, enabling improvements in the quality of care delivered to clients post TBI and development of recommendations for retraining community mobility post TBI.