The primary objective is to prepare the candidate to perform biomedical research as an independent investigator in child motor development and with clinical pediatric subject populations. The candidate has backgrounds in biomechanics and mathematics, specifically nonlinear dynamics. He is a research-oriented quantitative scientist who plans to apply his analytical abilities to study clinical biomedical and behavioral questions. The candidate will receive focused coursework and research training related to pediatric populations. He will enhance his education by receiving coursework in two core areas: 1) child development and neurophysiology, and 2) responsible conduct of research. Dr. Jeffrey French and Dr. Bradley Schaefer will mentor the candidate's research development and guide him in intensive research training for the study of child motor development, specifically infant postural control. The primary objective of this research is to increase understanding of postural control by examining the development of sitting posture in infancy. The development of early posture control remains poorly understood despite considerable therapeutic effort. Infants with developmental problems show some of their first delays in the acquisition of sitting, with subsequent problems developing adequate posture and movement control. Identifying the delay, determining the nature of the problem, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment quickly is vital in the early part of an infant's life, since this is the time of greatest plasticity. Methods from nonlinear dynamics, which are increasingly being used to examine biological rhythms, will be used in this study to analyze and quantify developing postural control from center of pressure (COP) data during sitting. The PIs hypothesize that nonlinear tools will be sensitive enough to quantify the evolution of normal postural control over time in both typically developing infants and infants with benign congenital hypotonia. The proposed research will further understanding of the development of early postural control and provide better methods for evaluating treatment aimed at improving postural control. This information will lay the groundwork for future studies into the efficacy of treatment for infants and children with disorders of posture and movement.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
Project #
5K25HD047194-03
Application #
7266351
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Nicholson, Carol E
Project Start
2005-08-25
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2007-08-01
Budget End
2008-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$114,971
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nebraska Omaha
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Education
DUNS #
190827162
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68182
Wickstrom, Jordan; Stergiou, Nick; Kyvelidou, Anastasia (2017) Reliability of center of pressure measures for assessing the development of sitting postural control through the stages of sitting. Gait Posture 56:8-13
Haworth, Joshua L; Vallabhajosula, Srikant; Stergiou, Nicholas (2014) Gaze and posture coordinate differently with the complexity of visual stimulus motion. Exp Brain Res 232:2797-806
Haworth, Joshua L; Harbourne, Regina T; Vallabhajosula, Srikant et al. (2013) Center of pressure and the projection of the time-course of sitting skill acquisition. Gait Posture 38:806-11
Kyvelidou, Anastasia; Harbourne, Regina T; Willett, Sandra L et al. (2013) Sitting postural control in infants with typical development, motor delay, or cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther 25:46-51
Yentes, Jennifer M; Huisinga, Jessie M; Myers, Sara A et al. (2012) Pharmacological treatment of intermittent claudication does not have a significant effect on gait impairments during claudication pain. J Appl Biomech 28:184-91
Vallabhajosula, Srikant; Yentes, Jennifer M; Momcilovic, Mira et al. (2012) Do lower-extremity joint dynamics change when stair negotiation is initiated with a self-selected comfortable gait speed? Gait Posture 35:203-8
Koutakis, Panagiotis; Mukherjee, Mukul; Vallabhajosula, Srikant et al. (2012) Path integration: Effect of curved path complexity and sensory system on blindfolded walking. Gait Posture :
Huisinga, Jessie M; Filipi, Mary L; Stergiou, Nicholas (2012) Supervised resistance training results in changes in postural control in patients with multiple sclerosis. Motor Control 16:50-63
Stergiou, Nicholas; Decker, Leslie M (2011) Human movement variability, nonlinear dynamics, and pathology: is there a connection? Hum Mov Sci 30:869-88
Myers, Sara A; Pipinos, Iraklis I; Johanning, Jason M et al. (2011) Gait variability of patients with intermittent claudication is similar before and after the onset of claudication pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 26:729-34

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