Jennifer L Mcginley

University of Melbourne | MSD · Department of Physiotherapy

Background: Integrated care is essential for improving the management and health outcomes for people with Parkinson's disease (PD); reliable and objective measures of care integration are few. Objective: The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care Measurement Tool (RMIC-MT, provider versi...

Background: Physical activity (PA) participation is important for children born extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight as it provides opportunities to improve motor skills and cardiovascular fitness; however there is little evidence on interventions promoting PA participation for this group, particularly at preschool age. Objective: This...

Background Children born very preterm (<32 weeks’ gestation) are at greater risk of motor impairment and executive/attentional dysfunctions than term-born children; however, little is known about how functional tasks, including walking, may be affected by very preterm birth. Research question How does the gait pattern of preschool-age children bor...

Background Physical activity (PA) participation provides opportunities for preschool-age children to improve motor skills. This is especially important for children born extremely preterm (EP) or extremely low birthweight (ELBW) who are at greater risk of motor impairment, and are participating less frequently in PA, compared with children born at...

Aim To determine whether a task-specific physiotherapist-led training approach is more effective than a non-specific parent-led home programme for attaining bicycle-riding goals in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method Sixty-two ambulant children with CP aged 6 to 15 years (33 males, 29 females, mean age 9y 6mo) with bicycle-riding go...

Children and adolescents born extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks’ gestation) are at greater risk of motor impairment, including cerebral palsy and developmental coordination disorder, than their term born peers. Importantly, motor impairment has implications beyond performing motor skills; it negatively affects outcomes as diverse as school success,...

Objective Children born < 30 weeks’ gestation have more motor impairment than do children born at term (37–42 weeks’ gestation), but reported outcomes have largely focused on cerebral palsy (CP) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The aim of this study was to compare muscle strength, motor skills and physical activity of preschool-aged c...

Background: People living with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) can experience considerable difficulties with movement, walking, balance, and oculomotor control. The role of exercises and physical activities in mitigating the motor and non-motor symptoms of PSP remains uncertain. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify the perspectives and...

Background Older people are often admitted for rehabilitation to improve walking, yet not everyone improves. The aim of this study was to determine key factors associated with a positive response to hospital-based rehabilitation in older people. Methods This was a secondary data analysis from a multisite randomized controlled trial. Older people (...

Aim We compared preschool age children born very preterm with term‐born controls to: (1) understand the association between very preterm birth and community participation, (2) determine if motor impairment or social risk affect participation differently between groups, and (3) understand environmental barriers and supports to participation for pare...

Background Falls are frequent in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and related to increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in older adults. This systematic review aims to synthesise the falls outcomes and to examine risk factors for falls in the COPD literature. Methods The protocol was registered in the Prospect...

Background: Weakness is the primary impairment in paediatric neuromuscular diseases, impacting gait and gait-related functional activities in ambulant children affected by these rare and often degenerative diseases. Gait speed is an indicator of health and disability, yet gait is a complex, multi-faceted activity. Using the International Classific...

Organized physical activity (OPA) is an important contributor to physical, social, and emotional health and well-being; however, young people with disabilities are participating at lower rates than their peers without disabilities. This study aimed to (1) compare facilitators and barriers to OPA for young people with disabilities who currently do a...

Background Quality of life in Parkinson's disease (PD) is affected by motor and nonmotor symptoms, necessitating an integrated care approach. Existing care models vary considerably in numerous domains. The objectives of this study were to perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of PD integrated care models and develop recommendations for a re...

Introduction Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a debilitating form of atypical Parkinsonism. People living with PSP experience movement disorders affecting walking, balance and eye movements. The role of exercise in optimising movement remains unclear. Aims To identify beliefs about exercise and structured physical activity through the exper...

Purpose: There is limited understanding of the characteristics and evaluation of more affected hand dexterity loss in Parkinson's disease. We described 9-Hole Peg Test performance for the more affected hand and examined the construct validity of these pegboard scores in mild to severe Parkinson's disease. Methods: This observational study analysed...

Introduction Children born extremely preterm (EP: <28 weeks gestation) and/or extremely low birth weight (ELBW: <1000 g) are at increased risk of motor impairment compared with children born at term. Children with motor impairment have lower rates of physical activity (PA) participation compared with their typically developing peers. PA participati...

Objectives: To evaluate the construct validity of two dexterity measures, the 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) and Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Testing was conducted at the university or in participants' homes. Participants: Thirty community dwelling people wi...

Background: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is the most frequent form of atypical Parkinsonism. Although there is preliminary evidence for the benefits of gait rehabilitation, balance training and oculomotor exercises in PSP, the quality of reporting of exercise therapies appears mixed. The current investigation aims to evaluate the comprehen...

Aim: To explore the efficacy of movement-based interventions to improve motor skills in preschool-age children with, or at risk of, motor impairment, including those with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental coordination disorder. Method: Relevant electronic databases were searched for randomized or quasi-ra...

Objective To conduct a systematic review to evaluate exercise and structured physical activity for people living with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Data sources AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, Informit, MEDLINE, PEDro, PsycINFO, PubMed and SportDiscus were searched until 18 August 2019. Reference lists of included studies were hand-searched. Me...

Walking is a central skill of daily living. A delay in the onset of walking can be a sign of abnormal motor development. Further, abnormalities in gait can also affect physical functioning. Children born preterm are at significant risk for neurodevelopmental impairments; however, little is known about how preterm birth affects walking. This review...

Importance: Knowledge regarding the reliability of pegboard tests when used to measure dexterity in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently limited. Objective: To examine the test-retest and interrater reliability of the 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) and Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) in people with PD. Design: Cross-sectional observational stu...

Background: Disability related to the progressive and degenerative neuropathies known collectively as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) affects gait and function, increasing with age and influencing physical activity in adults with CMT. The relationship between CMT-related disability, ambulatory function and physical activity in children and adole...

Aim: To date it is unclear whether the physical, cognitive, psychological and social benefits of dance extend to children with disabilities. Method: This systematic review synthesised empirical research on the effect of non-therapy dance programs on children with physical and developmental disabilities. Results: Nineteen studies met inclusion crite...

Impairment of postural reflexes, termed postural instability, is a common and disabling deficit in Parkinson's disease. To assess postural reflexes, clinicians typically employ the pull test to grade corrective responses to a backward perturbation at the shoulders. However, the pull test is prone to issues with reliability and scaling (score/4). He...

Aim: To describe current practices of physiotherapists and occupational therapists when training two-wheel bike skills in children with cerebral palsy (CP) within an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Methods: Ninety-five physiotherapists and occupational therapists working with children with CP in A...

Background Disability related to the progressive and degenerative neuropathies known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) affects gait and function, increasing with age and influencing physical activity in adults with CMT. The relationship between disease, ambulatory function and physical activity in children and adolescents with CMT is unknown. Me...

Questions: Among older people receiving inpatient rehabilitation, does additional supervised physical activity lead to faster self-selected gait speed at discharge? Does additional supervised physical activity lead to better mobility, function and quality of life at discharge and 6 months following discharge? Design: Multi-centre, parallel-group...

Postural reflexes are impaired in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, leading to difficulty walking and falls. In clinical practice, postural responses are assessed using the 'pull test', where an examiner tugs the pre-warned, standing patient backwards at the shoulders and grades the response. However, validity of the pull test is debated with...

Objective To prospectively study falls in children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Neuromuscular outpatient clinic of a tertiary paediatric hospital. Patients Sixty children and adolescents (‘children’) aged 4–18 years, 30 with CMT and 30 typically developing (TD). Main outcome me...

Objectives/Background: A high proportion of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder- Combined type (ADHD-CT) experience sleep and motor problems. This study investigated (a) whether motor proficiency moderated the relationship between ADHD symptoms and sleep problems in children with and without ADHD-CT and (b) whether this moderatio...

Objective: Children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) report problems with gait and footwear. We evaluated differences in spatio-temporal gait variables and gait variability between children with CMT and typically developing (TD) children, and investigated the effect of footwear upon gait. Method: A cross-sectional study of 30 children with...

Introduction Two-wheel bike riding can be a goal for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and a means of participating in physical activity. It is possible for some children with CP to ride a two-wheel bike; however, currently far fewer can ride compared with their typically developing peers. Evidence supports training targeted towards goals of the ch...

Objectives The primary objective is to systematically evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of task-specific training (TST) of gross motor skills for improving activity and/or participation outcomes in ambulant school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). The secondary objective is to identify motor learning strategies reported within TST a...

Older people with a variety of health conditions are often admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to improve mobility, but it is not known how to maximize their recovery. The purpose of this single blinded, multisite randomized controlled trial was to determine whether providing increased physical activity to older people receiving inpatient rehabil...

Background: Falls are common and debilitating in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and restrict participation in daily activities. Understanding circumstances of falls in the community and at home may assist clinicians to target therapy more effectively. Objective: To compare the characteristics of community and home fallers and the circumsta...

Children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) report problems with gait. Little is known about gait changes over time in children with this degenerative disease. This prospective longitudinal study investigated change in spatio-temporal gait parameters and functional ambulation. Two assessments were conducted 12 months apart. Asse...

Questions: For people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, does a 6-week, comprehensive, home exercise program reduce falls and disability and improve health-related quality of life? Is the program cost-effective? Design: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation and assessor blinding. Participants: One hundred and thirty-three communi...

The cerebellum appears to play a key role in the development of internal rules that allow fast, predictive adjustments to novel stimuli. This is crucial for adaptive motor processes, such as those involved in walking, where cerebellar dysfunction has been found to increase variability in gait parameters. Motor adaptation is a process that results i...

Clinical gait analysis incorporating three-dimensional motion analysis plays a key role in planning surgical treatments in people with gait disability. The position of the Hip Joint Centre (HJC) within the pelvis is thus critical to ensure accurate data interpretation. The position of the HJC is determined from regression equations based on anthrop...

Objectives There is no medical test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a heterogeneous condition currently defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) by dysfunction in social, communication, and behavioural dimensions. There is agreement in the literature that the motor profile of ASD may hold the ke...

Introduction: Motor impairments are one of the most frequently reported adverse neurodevelopmental consequences in children born < 30 weeks’ gestation. Up to 15% of children born at < 30 weeks have cerebral palsy and an additional 50% have mild to severe motor impairment at school age. The first 5 years of life are critical for the development of f...

Symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) typically arise in childhood or adolescence with gait difficulty most common. A systematic review was conducted to synthesize, review and characterise gait in pediatric CMT. Health related electronic databases were reviewed with search terms related to CMT and gait. Of 454 articles, ten articles describ...

The relationship between spatiotemporal gait parameters, balance performance and falls history was investigated in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Participants completed a single assessment of gait using an instrumented walkway at preferred and fast speeds, balance testing (Balance Evaluation Systems Test; BESTest), and reported falls his...

Objective: We explored the relationship between accidental injuries, motor impairment, and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children with ADHD-combined type (ADHD-CT). Method: Participants were 32 male children diagnosed with ADHD-CT and 23 typically developing male children (7-12 years, full scale IQ [FSIQ] > 80). Parents...

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to quantify the baseline variation in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) referred to a comprehensive care program and those attending standard neurological services. Methods. Participants included individuals with PD receiving conventional care from n...

Aim: To examine the kinematic gait deviations at the trunk and pelvis of children with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Method: This exploratory observational study quantified gait kinematics for the trunk and pelvis from 11 children with HSP (7 males, 4 females) using the Gait Profile Score and Gait Variable Scores (GVS), and compared the k...

The Microsoft Kinect has been used previously to assess spatiotemporal aspects of gait; however the reliability of this system for the assessment of people following stroke has not been established. This study examined the reliability and additional information that the Kinect provides when instrumenting a gait assessment in people living with stro...

Despite evidence of an increased fall risk in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a paucity of prospective fall data in this population. This preliminary study aimed to prospectively examine the prevalence rate, incidence rate and associated risk factors for falls in a sample of community-dwelling people with COPD ove...

Background: Around 60-70% of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) are able to walk independently or with aids when they enter adulthood. Maintaining the ability to walk or optimising flexible mobility options is important to enable societal participation, maintain employment and retain independence. However it is common for mobility to deteriorate...

Objective. Describe perceived cause, environmental influences, and consequences of falls or near-falls in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods. Adults with CP completed postal surveys and follow-up semistructured interviews. Surveys sought information on demographic data, self-nominated Gross Motor Function Classification Score (GMFCS-...

Background Increased fear of falling (FOF) has been associated with impaired physical function, reduced physical activity and increased fall risk in older adults. Preliminary evidence suggests that individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have an increased FOF. This study aims to compare the level of FOF in people with COPD...

Background: Older adults who have received inpatient rehabilitation often have significant mobility disability at discharge. Physical activity levels in rehabilitation are also low. It is hypothesized that providing increased physical activity to older people receiving hospital-based rehabilitation will lead to better mobility outcomes at discharg...

Background. Falls are common and disabling in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). There is a need to quantify the effects of movement rehabilitation on falls in PD. Objective. To evaluate 2 physical therapy interventions in reducing falls in PD. Methods. We randomized 210 people with PD to 3 groups: progressive resistance strength training couple...

The Wii Balance Board (WBB) is a globally accessible device that shows promise as a clinically useful balance assessment tool. Although the WBB has been found to be comparable to a laboratory-grade force platform for obtaining centre of pressure data, it has not been comprehensively studied in clinical populations. The aim of this study was to inve...

To investigate the safety, feasibility and potential efficacy of balance training in adults with cerebral palsy. Phase 2, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Outpatient rehabilitation facility. A total of 17 ambulatory adults with cerebral palsy. Participants were randomly allocated to an eight-week, once-weekly, small group programme of...

Objectives: To identify measurement tools used for upper limb evaluation in people with Parkinson disease (PD), to summarize the content of each tool using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and to examine the reliability, validity, clinical utility, and responsiveness of the measurement tools specific to this...

To identify, appraise and synthesize evidence regarding efficacy of conservative interventions (physiotherapeutic, pharmacological) to improve walking in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Standard search and extraction methods were utilised. A descriptive synthesis was performed with additional limited meta-analysis where the same outcome m...

Background Despite an increasing number of studies examining the profile of falls and mobility decline in adults with cerebral palsy (CP), little is known about its impact on an individual¿s life quality. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the wellbeing and health status aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in ambulant adu...

This study aimed to compare the gait of children with ADHD - Combined Type (ADHD-CT) to typically developing (TD) children. Children with ADHD-CT (n=14; mean age 10 years 4 months) and a TD group (n=13; mean age 10 years 9 months) walked at self-selected slow, preferred and fast speed on an electronic walkway system. Participants completed a total...

. The Microsoft Kinect presents a simple, inexpensive, and portable method of examining the independent components of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) without any intrusion on the patient. . This study examined the reliability of these measures, and whether they improved prediction of performance on common clinical tests. . Thirty individuals with stroke...

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and potential efficacy of the Nintendo Wii™ for balance rehabilitation after stroke. Design: Phase II, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation facility. Subjects: Thirty adults (mean age 63.6 (14.7) years) undergoing inpatient rehabilitation who were less than thr...

Motor impairment is consistently reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and may be an early risk factor for core ASD symptomatology. This chapter provides an overview of empirical motor studies in ASD and considers clinical, behavioral, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging studies of motor impairment in ASD. The association between motor impai...

Soft tissue artifact (STA) has been identified as the most critical source of error in clinical gait analysis. Multiple calibration is a technique to reduce the impact of STA on kinematic data, which involves several static calibrations through the range of motion of the joint of interest. This study investigated how skin markers at the pelvis were...

Aims: To investigate the frequency and consequences of falls in a group of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and explore relationships between falls, falls risk, balance and fear of falling. In addition, this study will compare falls risk factors in those reporting falls and those not reporting falls. Method: Twenty-five ambulant community dwelling a...