Examination of sensori-motor impairments in movement disorders (including basal ganglia and cerebellar disorders)

Understanding the mechanisms underlying motor impairments, and developing novel methods of rehabilitation interventions. Specific projects, which are conducted in collaboration with the Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, include:
• Investigating behavioral markers of motor impairment in pre-symptomatic Huntington’s disease
• Examining spectrum of motor (including gait and hand control) and functional impairments in individuals with Huntington’s disease

Quantifying gait impairments in essential tremor

Rao, A.K. (2008). Role of occupational therapy movement disorders of the basal ganglia. In press Physical Disabilities Special Interest Section Quarterly.

Rao AK, Muratori LM, Louis ED, Moskowitz CB and Marder KS. (2007). Spectrum of gait impairments in presymptomatic and symptomatic Huntington’s disease. Movement Disorders Supplement. 22, S1:6.

Rao AK, Quinn L and Marder K. (2005). Test-retest reliability of gait outcome measures in Huntington’s disease. Movement Disorders. 20 (8):1033-1037.

Shadmehr R, Donchin O, Hwang EJ, Hemminger SE, and Rao A.K. (2005). Learning dynamics of reaching. In: Motor Cortex in Voluntary Movements. A. Riehle and E. Vaadia (editors), CRC Press, pp. 297-328.

Rao AK. Cognition and Motor Skills. (2005). In A. Henderson & C. Pehosky (Eds.). Hand Function in the Child: Foundations for remediation. St. Louis: MO.
Mosby-Elsevier. Pp 101-113.

Rao AK. (2004). Approaches to motor control dysfunction: An evidence-based review. In Stroke Rehabilitation, G. Gillen and A. Burkhardt (Eds). St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Elsevier.

Johnson EK, Chandra A, Nabeyama B, Santikul K, Sullivan MT, and Rao AK. (2004). The effects of resisted hip adduction on EMG activity of the vastus medialis obliquus muscle during terminal knee extension in a closed kinetic chain. American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting Abstract.

Quinn L and Rao AK. (2002). Physical Therapy and Huntington’s disease: current perspectives and case report. Neurology Report: 26 (3), 145-153.

Sandow E, Bronner S, Spriggs J, Bassile CC, Rao AK, Brownstein B. (2002). Coordination of a skilled dance movement, the passe’, in professional female dancers and non-dancers. International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Abstracts.

Rao AK and Gordon AM. (2001). Contribution of tactile information to accuracy in pointing. Experimental Brain Research, 138: 438-445.

Book Chapters
Rao AK. (2005). Approaches to Motor Control Dysfunction: An Evidence-Based Review. In Stroke Rehabilitation, G. Gillen and A. Burkhardt (Eds). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Shadmehr R, Donchin O, Hwang E, Hemminger S, Rao AK. (2005). Learning to compensate for dynamics of reaching movements. The Motor Cortex and Voluntary Movements (E. Vaadia, Ed.), CRC Press.

Grants
2005-07: Huntingdon’s Disease Society of America. Is motor variability a reliable biomarker in presymptomatic Huntington’s disease?

2005: Research Investigator Award, Columbia University. The effect of selected closed chain hip adduction, knee extension and hip adduction with knee extension on EMG activity of the vastus lateralis oblique muscle

2004: Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence at New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Factors contributing to gait impairment and functional performance in patients with Huntingdon’s Disease.

2002: VIDDA Foundation Grant to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.