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Research Study Participant Information

The purpose of this study is to use electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) to study your brain and muscle activity. We will also stimulate your brain (without any surgery) to see if enhancing certain brain rhythms help the communication between brain and muscle.

Contact: Cassidy Plasticity Lab, CassidyLab@unc.edu, 919-966-8404

People with Parkinson disease walk with decreased forces around their hip compared to older adults. This study aims to see if we can combine walking with resistance and visual feedback to increase those forces similarly to older adults.

Contact: Ben Killen, Regain_Lab@med.unc.edu, 919-966-404

Ever wonder how the way you walk may affect your knees? Have you ever had an ACL reconstruction? You may be able to take part in a study to learn more about how different types of force applied to your legs can affect your knee while walking on a treadmill.
In this study, we want to learn about the effects of different kinds of force on the knee when walking on a treadmill. We will do this by looking at MRI images of knee cartilage in people with a history of ACL reconstruction. *This study is a collaboration with the UNC Sports Medicine Institute*
Contact: Christin Buettner, email: ACLresearch@unc.edu, phone: (984) 542-7720
We are recruiting healthy adults 65+ years of age with and without hearing loss for a study of the effects of different sound conditions on standing balance. Interested volunteers will be asked to complete a 25-minute phone interview to determine eligibility for the study. Eligible participants will come to our research lab on the UNC campus (parking right outside the door) for a single 1-hour test session involving clinical and laboratory balance tests.

Contact: Vicki Mercer, PT, PhD at vmercer@med.unc.edu 

Individuals with a history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and have had an ACL reconstruction (ACLR) are at a greater risk for developing osteoarthritis. The greater risk for developing osteoarthritis is likely caused by too little force or physical activity applied to the knee during weightbearing tasks such as walking. To reduce this decrease in forces during walking following an ACLR, we must first develop effective treatments that can train a person to walk in a way that reduces their risk of developing osteoarthritis. The purpose of this research study is to determine the feasibility and the initial effects of a 6-week training program designed to improve walking mechanics of individuals with an ACL reconstruction. *This study is a collaboration with the UNC Sports Medicine Institute*
Contact: Sergio Lemus, email: ACLresearch@unc.edu, phone: (984) 542-7720

This study is looking at ways to measure and give feedback of walking characteristics while walking with a powered ankle exoskeleton for individuals post-stroke. We hope that by combining visual feedback with an ankle exoskeleton, people will walk with bigger propulsive forces thus leading to faster and more efficient walking.

Contact: Steven Thompson, Regain_Lab@med.unc.edu, 919-966-4041

We’re exploring how walking rehabilitation can improve walking in those with Parkinson disease. The study consists of multiple guided training sessions designed to boost your walking confidence and long-term improvement.

Contact: Sarah Brown and Kate Crissman, Regain_Lab@med.unc.edu, 919-966-4041