Tucker - Volunteer to participate
We are recruiting volunteers to participate in the following studies. Please email the staff member listed for more details.
Control of shoulder muscles
The shoulder is one of the most complex regions in the human body. Movement about the shoulder is controlled by a complex interaction between the skeletal system (our bones), the many muscle tendon units that apply forces to our bones, and the nervous system, which ultimately controls the way we contract our muscles and produce force. Having a better understanding of the way our nervous system controls our muscles and therefore movement is critical for optimising performance, advancing rehabilitation techniques, and providing new insights into the underpinnings of musculoskeletal issues (e.g., shoulder rotator cuff injuries, amongst many other neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions).
Contact w.vandenhoorn@uq.edu.au or k.tucker1@uq.ed.au for more information.
Neuromuscular control of shoulder muscles in healthy individuals during a bench press task
You can participate in this study if you are a male aged between 18 and 40 years of age and have no shoulder issues.
Walking well with painful knees
The patellofemoral joint within the knee, lies between the patella (knee cap) and the femur (thigh bone). This joint is commonly affected by osteoarthritis. Patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis (PF OA) is evident in ~1 in every 3 young and middle-aged adult who has persistent patellofemoral joint pain.
Elevated patellofemoral joint loading, during everyday tasks such as walking, ascending and descending stairs, is thought to cause patellofemoral joint pathology, including PF OA. Hence, several interventions that aim to reduce patellofemoral joint loading have been investigated in people with PF OA. Studying movement in individuals with PF OA is important to understand the potential pathomechanics associated with this condition.
Walking is a primary physical activity among adults. It is a safe and recommended aerobic exercise for adults with knee osteoarthritis, a functional task that has been frequently included in knee osteoarthritis studies and a recommended activity to test when assessing physical function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.
The proposed work will allow for a comprehensive study of the full body movement patterns, lower limb muscle activations, muscle biomechanics and knee joint loading that occurs during gait in people with PF OA.
Where is the study taking place?
All sessions will take place at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia campus. We can meet at the Otto-Hirschfield Building (81), Chancellors Place, St Lucia. We will send you specific instructions on where you can park on campus.
How long will it take?
Approximately 2 hours in total.
How do I take part?
If you are interested in participating in our study please fill out the participation questionnaire or email a.albaradie@uq.net.au.
For more specific information on this study please see the information sheet (PDF, 280.3 KB).
Knee pain in 18-35 year olds
Current studies
We are seeking physically active participants, 18 – 35 years old, to participate in a study that aims to:
We aim to understand the factors that underlie individual movement control strategies, the consequences of these strategies on the musculoskeletal system, and if or when an intervention is required. This knowledge will ultimately lead to improved outcomes for people who have great potential to develop, or are already living with painful musculoskeletal conditions.
As part of this broad aim, we conduct many movement control studies in the lab. Studies generally align with undergraduate or postgraduate work, and may begin and end at multiple times within each calendar year.
Our studies may involve all non-invasive measures, like measuring muscle activity with electrodes suck on the skin, or others where we need to insert small wires into muscle. They might involve ultrasound, or MRI so that we can assess muscle architecture. Studies sometimes involve sitting in a chair and producing force, other times they might require our participants to run, jump, cycle or hop!
In some cases we have funding to support small payments for our participants to reimburse them for their time and parking costs etc. Other times our participants volunteer to be part of a study to learn more about movement control, to get exposure to a human movement lab, or just for the love of science!
If you are interested in hearing more about what is going on in the lab at the moment, please email Dr Kylie Tucker who will put you in contact with the students currently recruiting, who will provide more information for you to consider.
The role of back muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
We aim to quantify differences in the size, quality, and control of back muscles of teenagers with and without scoliosis (sideways curve of the spine).
If you'd like to make a tax deductible donation towards this project, please donate here.
Who can participate?
Participants aged 10-18 years with straight spines (non-scoliosis) from the community. Adolescents with scoliosis will typically be recruited through the Children’s Hospital or physiotherapy practices. Please contact us if you (or your child) has scoliosis and are not currently under care at the Children’s Hospital or a referring physiotherapy practice, as they might still be able to participate.
What is involved?
Prior to coming into the lab (or when you arrive)
- Participants and their guardians will need to read the information sheet, guardians sign the consent form.
- Participants complete a questionnaire about typical physical activity levels and pain experience.
Once in the lab
- We show you the equipment that will be used and answer any questions.
- Markers and recording electrodes will be placed on the skin and used to measure movements and muscle contractions
- Ultrasound will be used to help the researchers locate the position of specific bones and muscles.
- Participants will perform a series of simple movement tasks, including: Sitting, Standing, Raising both arms up quickly, Loading of small weights on the shoulders
- Participants will also need to have an MRI of their back muscles at the UQ-Centre of Advanced Imaging, this is walking distance from where we will collect the other data.
- All procedures are comfortable.
Where is it located?
All sessions will take place at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia campus. We can meet at the Otto-Hirschfield Building (81), Chancellors Place, St Lucia. We will send you specific instructions on where you can park on campus.
How long will it take?
Approximately 3 hours in total, which can be broken up into 2 parts if needed.
How do I take part?
If you are interested in participating in our study, please fill in the parent/guardian contact details, and answer a few questions here, or email k.tucker1@uq.edu.au.
For more specific information on this study, download the information sheet (PDF, 804.5 KB).
Previous projects
Knee pain in 12-18 year old adolescents
Chronic or re-occurring knee pain affects 1 in every 3 adolescents. Adolescents with knee pain tend to reduce their physical activity levels, school attendance, participation in hobbies and social activities. Knee pain can cause disturbances in appetite, sleep and mental health.
There are many reasons why knee pain might begin, but we are particularly interested in a type of kneecap pain also known as patellofemoral pain, because it is the most common cause of knee pain in adolescents.
Very little research has been conducted on what causes kneecap pain in adolescents. This means we know relatively little about it and what we might be able to do to help people with it.
This is one of the very first studies that is designed to help us understand if the control of movement is different in adolescents with kneecap pain compared to those without kneecap pain. We are hoping to collect enough data to understand what factors might help us predict those who are likely to get better and those who are likely to continue to have pain.
Who can participate?
Adolescents with kneecap pain, and adolescents with no history of kneecap pain. We cannot include anyone who: i) has pain in more than one place in their lower limb, ii) has had surgery on their knee, hip or spine; or iii) has other suspected knee joint troubles. If you might be able to participate, but are unsure, please contact us as a Physiotherapist from our team can complete a screening test.
What is involved?
Participants will complete some questionnaires, and may be assesses by our Physiotherapist prior to inclusion in the study.
Session 1 will include laboratory measures of muscle activation in the research laboratory. This takes less than 2 hours.
Session 2 involves having an MRI of the participants thigh. This takes less than 45 minutes.
Participants will receive $50 reimbursement for their time and parking expenses etc upon completion of data collection.
Where will the study take place?
All sessions will take place at the University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus
Who are the researchers?
- Dr Kylie Tucker, Director of Motor Control and Pain Laboratory, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Natalie Collins, Physiotherapist and Lecturer, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, UQ
- Professor Francois Hug, University of Nantes, France
How do I take part?
If you are interested in participating, or would like to find out more about these studies, please email Marion Crouzier. Marion will send you a full information sheet and consent for you to consider.
Knee osteoarthritis
We are currently recruiting people over 45 years of age with no lower limb pain or previous lower limb surgery. We will be assessing your lower limb strength, dynamic balance and measures of everyday function. This will be compared to gender- and age-matched people with painful knee osteoarthritis.
The aim of the study is to:
- further target management of people with knee osteoarthritis,
- improve outcomes of pain, function and quality of life, and
- retard the progression and prevent the onset of knee osteoarthritis in at-risk populations.
Collection of data is a one-off assessment that will be conducted at The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside. If available for assessment please contact Andrew Hislop on 3139 5370 or tpchknee@health.qld.gov.au.