Quantitative Behavioral Assessment and Rehabilitation Core

Medical University Of South Carolina, Charleston SC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The QBAR Core builds on four recently established laboratories within the College of Health Professions that provide state-of-the-art measurements of behavioral function (e.g., 3-D kinematics, kinetics and electromyography) and rehabilitation interventions (locomotor, constraint-induced movement and intensive task-oriented upper extremity training) in hemiparesis post-stroke patients. At present, the measurement and intervention framework available to clinicians is theoretically and practically insufficient to determine relevant deficits of a post-stroke patient and prescribe efficacious interventions. Rehabilitation needs to be moved much closer to a model where: (a) the health of a person's motor control system would be assayed, (b) specific deficits would be identified, (c) specific treatments would be used to target the deficits, and (d) quantitative measures would provide assessment of the pre- and post-treatment states. The QBAR Core will support investigators in their development of measurement and intervention frameworks by means of two primary roles: (1) The Quantitative Behavioral Assessment role enables SCRCRS investigators to study how measures of brain plasticity and behavior can be used to guide and individualize rehabilitation and/or restorative therapies. Core services include motion capture and electromyography for precise measures of motion and muscle activity, energetics as measured by oxygen consumption, accelerometer-based devices for measuring activities such as walking and hemiparetic arm use, neuromuscular measures of strength and power of individual joints, clinical measures, and animal behavioral assay equipment. (2) The Rehabilitation role enables SCRCRS investigators to study the experience-dependent nature of post-stroke plasticity by providing standardized experience to optimize the treatment effects of restorative therapies, either by using current state-of-the-art methods or developing novel tools or methods. Core services include locomotor rehabilitation, upper extremity rehabilitation, and animal model rehabilitation appropriate to animal stroke models. COBRE funds will support highly trained technical personnel who perform critical research and training functions within the QBAR laboratories, as well as a 'resource mentor' with expertise in using animal models. Additionally, QBAR will provide mentoring and strategic planning to all SCRCRS investigators, especially those who do not have primary expertise in the areas of measurement of behavior/function and rehabilitation, with the overall goal of QBAR emerging as the 'go-to' place for stroke rehabilitation researchers from across South Carolina and elsewhere.