While self-propelled wheelchair technology has made great strides since its invention in the mid-17th century, there are still many ways in which the current technology falls short of making life truly accessible for wheelchair users.

Dr. Jacquie Ripat, professor of occupational therapy and vice-dean (academic affairs) of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, was recently named the first Endowed Chair in Technology for Assisted Living.

The chair, based in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, is supported by UM and the Health Sciences Centre Foundation.

Ripat’s central priority is generating research opportunities while testing the latest innovations in the ever-expanding field of technology-assisted living.

Recently, she has partnered with Dr. Jaimie Borisoff, a specialist in rehabilitation engineering design at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), to research innovative methods of expanding current wheelchair capabilities.

As the director of MAKE+, an applied research team at BCIT, Borisoff has spent more than 20 years working to improve wheelchairs and assistive devices. He and his team have previously been responsible for commercializing a lightweight wheelchair with an adjustable seat and backrest to suit various daily activities.

Together, Ripat and Borisoff hope to create products that allow manual wheelchairs to be modified to better suit different environments. For example, wheels could be changed to adjust to more difficult terrain.

“We hope we can make wheelchairs go places where wheelchairs can’t go right now,” says Borisoff, who represented Canada in wheelchair basketball at four Paralympics. “Those are places like the beach, rough terrain and snowy areas.” Wheelchairs might even be able to handle stairs and climb over obstacles, he says.

Thanks to recently announced funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) – Innovation Fund, the pair will have access to the most cutting-edge wheelchair technology. This will allow them to investigate wheelchairs’ performance and see how the chairs can be modified to meet different needs.

The funding will also allow them to expand their wheelchair performance test courses at BCIT and UM. Inspired by Manitoba’s often snowy environment, the test course at UM will specialize in testing wheelchairs in winter conditions.

Few wheelchairs on the market have been designed to navigate the hurdles posed by the Canadian climate, Ripat says.

“Paved roads and sidewalks often aren’t available,” she says, “and people are using wheelchairs in conditions that are very difficult to navigate. We’re really interested in working with some of our rural, remote and northern partners to see how we can improve wheelchair mobility.”

Ripat and Borisoff hope to put a Canadian spin on this technology. They plan to one day showcase their innovations on the international stage by competing in the Cybathlon, a competition for assistive technology development held in Switzerland.

“Congratulations to these researchers for receiving support through the CFI – Innovation Fund to advance this innovative research,” says UM Vice-President (Research and International) Dr. Mario Pinto. “I’m confident that by combining expertise from UM and BCIT, this work will lead to improved accessibility for Canadians and those abroad who experience mobility issues.”

Cutting-edge building planned for health education

UM is set to transform health education in Manitoba with plans for a multipurpose building to open in 2025 on the Bannatyne campus. The project, supported by donors and a $40-million commitment from the provincial government, will allow for 30 additional medical school seats and introduce state-of-the-art facilities.

Situated at the corner of McDermot Avenue and Tecumseh Street, the multi-storey building will contain classrooms, simulation labs and a theatre to accommodate the growing number of medical students. The facility will also house the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry’s expansive new dental clinics, Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing and a 90-space child-care centre. Read more >

Three new research chairs fuel discovery

Dr. Genevieve Thompson, professor of nursing, was named the inaugural Research Chair in Person-Directed Living, a position jointly established by Riverview Health Centre and the College of Nursing. Thompson’s focus will be on research to improve quality of life for people in long-term care. Read more >

Dr. Nishita Singh, a stroke neurologist who is assistant professor of internal medicine, was appointed the Heart & Stroke & Research Manitoba Chair in Clinical Stroke Research. The position at the Max Rady College of Medicine is the first chair in clinical stroke research to be established in Manitoba. Read more >

Dr. Jacquie Ripat, professor of occupational therapy, was appointed the first Endowed Chair in Technology for Assisted Living at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences. The chair, funded by donations to the Health Sciences Centre Foundation and UM, will focus on cutting-edge technology that helps people live independently. Read more >

Collecting data to disrupt racism

UM was a partner in announcing that Manitobans are now being asked to voluntarily declare their race, ethnicity or Indigenous identity when they receive care at hospitals. The initiative is led on behalf of Shared Health by Dr. Marcia Anderson, vice-dean Indigenous health, social justice and anti-racism of the Rady Faculty.

Manitoba is the first province in Canada to systematically collect this information from patients when they access care. The purpose of amassing and analyzing the data is to address racial inequities in health care. Read more >  

Dental college celebrates patient’s enduring trust

Catherine Hyska has been a devoted patient at the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry’s clinic for an astounding 57 years. She started visiting the clinic in an era when fillings cost 25 cents and crowns were priced between $5 and $10. Now 93 years old, she attributes her enduring oral well-being to the guidance of the dental students who have cared for her.

Hyska’s loyalty speaks volumes about the dental college’s quality of care, compassionate students and affordability for community members. Read more >

Medical college marks 140 years

Since its founding in 1883, the Max Rady College of Medicine has educated and trained the majority of Manitoba’s physicians and played a crucial role in the delivery of health care across the province.

The college is known for leadership in the areas of social accountability, equity, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism initiatives, Indigenous health and interprofessional collaboration. Its robust research enterprise includes a focus on global public health, infectious diseases and population health. Alumni, partners, faculty members, learners and friends of the college gathered in November for a gala celebration of its proud history.

Read more about the college’s research achievements of the past 140 years

Read more about alumni and faculty members who are Canadian Medical Hall of Fame laureates

College of Nursing welcomes historic summer cohort

In May, the College of Nursing opened a new chapter, welcoming its first summer cohort of 120 students. This enrolment expansion, supported by an investment of $4.3 million from the Province of Manitoba, marked a significant step in addressing the province’s nursing shortage.

The college has revolutionized its bachelor of nursing program, now accommodating three cohorts annually, with year-round delivery of the program across three terms: summer, fall and winter. This approach ensures that students will complete the degree in 28 months. Read more >

First class graduates from new PharmD program

The first students to earn the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) undergraduate degree at UM were recognized at Spring Convocation, marking a new era for pharmacy education in Manitoba.

The PharmD program, which has replaced UM’s longstanding bachelor of science (pharmacy), is a four-year professional degree program that focuses on clinical practice, experiential learning and pharmaceutical sciences. The program prepares pharmacists for their evolving scope of practice and role in patient care. Read more >

Ininiw scholar develops curriculum framework

With a vision to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, Ininiw (Cree) scholar Margaret Hart is developing a curriculum framework for the occupational therapy program in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Hart, who is from Pimicikamak Cree Nation with ties to Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, has extensive experience as an Indigenous educator. In consultation with communities, she is working to decolonize the occupational therapy curriculum and infuse it with First Nation philosophies. Read more >

Pride flag, queer health symposium encourage inclusion

In a ceremony in September, the Pride flag was unveiled in a permanent position above the stage in the Brodie Centre atrium, demonstrating the Rady Faculty’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Read more >

In October, Caring Queerly, the first Rady Faculty symposium on queer health, was held on the Bannatyne campus. More than 60 people registered for the two-day event, which offered a safe space to discuss queer health inequities and services. Read more >

Rady Kids’ Club provides study break for parents

For students in the health sciences who have children, juggling the demands of university life and parenting can be a challenge. It’s tough to find quality study time.

In a game-changing initiative, the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Family Centre has introduced the free Rady Kids’ Club. Designed for children aged four to 12, the club runs one Saturday morning per month in the gym on the Bannatyne campus, giving parents some uninterrupted study time. Read more >

The research chair brings together HSC Foundation donors’ contribution of $1.5 million and University of Manitoba donors’ contribution of $1.5 million to support leadership, scholarship and mentorship in the emerging field.

Technology-assisted living uses computer technology, artificial intelligence and other digital tools to increase quality of life. Current efforts are focused on aiding those who are recovering from surgery, suffering from chronic illness, living with disabilities and wishing to remain living independently.

(Left to right) Jonathon Lyon, president and CEO of HSC Foundation, Dr. Jacquie Ripat, endowed chair in technology for assisted living, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Reg Urbanowski, dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

The chair has a five-year term and is the first endowed chair to be based in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Ripat said she believes technology can serve as a powerful catalyst for inclusion, empowerment and participation for people at all stages of life.

“This work is fueled by the understanding that the barriers faced by people are not insurmountable when we harness the potential of cutting-edge technology,” she said.

At the announcement, she pointed to two examples of “living lab” projects currently underway at UM.

One is an outdoor space currently at Fort Garry campus, where technologies that address the mobility challenges people face during the winter can be assessed and developed.

The other is the “smart suite” housed at HSC’s rehabilitation hospital. At the high-tech 850 sq. ft. model apartment, patients can get fitted with leading-edge technology and explore which assisted-technology solutions work best for them. The unit is also used for both teaching and research at the college.

“I believe we are just on the cusp of the technological revolution,” Ripat said. “In the coming years, we can expect to witness the widespread adoption of self-driving cars, increased use of social robots, augmented and virtual reality to address social isolation, and the integration of sensors into homes and even clothing to provide monitoring and support.”

At the announcement, Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, said these research advancements and emerging technologies will remove barriers to independent living for those living with health concerns.

“We are healthiest and happiest when we can be in the comfort of our homes, rather than living in institutional care. This is now becoming a reality for many more people than ever before,” Nickerson said.

Jonathon Lyon, president and CEO of HSC Foundation, said research and development in the field of technology for assisted living is urgent and will be a key to unlocking further improvements in diagnosis, medicines and treatments for patients.

“The technology assisted living program is a shining example of what can be accomplished in virtual care, partnership, philanthropy and a commitment to innovation,” he said.

Dr. Reg Urbanowski, dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, called the establishment of the chair a “step forward” for the college.

 “I think this is the beginning of many more commitments we will have as we continue to develop our research program in rehabilitation sciences,” he said. “Technology-assisted living research will enable people with activity limitations or participation restrictions to stay meaningfully engaged in their home and community environment.”

“Voice-to-text, for example, used to be really specialized technology for people who had limited hand function. Now we all use it,” she says.

“I think back to the first time someone used their voice to control something, and how that raised people’s eyebrows. Now, you go to an airport and so many people are on their Bluetooth, seemingly talking to themselves. Much of the stigma around using that technology is gone.”

Ripat, an associate professor who joined the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences faculty in 2003, says her interest in occupational therapy started during her adolescence in Winnipeg. She used to babysit for an occupational therapist and often read her journals after the kids went to bed.

“She was very positive about her work and supported me to consider this path,” Ripat recalls.

The three-time UM alumna has a research focus on how users of assistive technology participate in their occupations and communities and interact with their surroundings. She has published many studies, for example, of the experiences of people who use wheelchairs in winter conditions.

She is currently working on several projects to help people with disabilities participate in their physical, social, institutional or cultural environments. Many of the projects are technology based.

“I’ve always been interested in how we can leverage technology in different ways to advantage people,” Ripat says.

Among the projects is the creation of a smart suite at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre – a model apartment outfitted with technology solutions, such as height-adjustable counters and kitchen appliances, that can be controlled using a smartphone app. Ripat is collaborating on the project with architecture faculty and interior design students.

“We’re working with older adults to make kitchens healthier and safer for them to use, so they can continue to live in their homes longer.”

Another project is the development of a smart bike. Ripat is working on it with kinesiology and biosystems engineering faculty and Freedom Concepts, a Winnipeg-based company that designs three-wheeled adaptive bikes for adults and children with disabilities.

“The smart bike would allow clinicians to measure and document some of the benefits of adaptive cycling,” Ripat says.

“We’re also looking at how the bikes make people feel. Do kids participate more with their peers at school? We want to learn how the adaptive bikes can be used to promote participation.”

Health-care funders view adaptive bikes as mere leisure equipment, but Ripat’s team is interested in learning more about the health and social benefits.

She sees a similar challenge when it comes to funding the use of tablets and smartphones as assistive technologies.

“The health-care system doesn’t see these as health-related devices. But it makes good sense that we maximize the potential of all technologies for people with disabilities. We are continuing to see a convergence of mainstream and assistive technology, and this will mean that everyone benefits.”

For more on Dr. Jacquie Ripat’s work, view her Rady Researchers video.

On Oct 1-2, the conference had 124 registered attendees from across Canada and featured 11 PhD students and 15 master’s students from UM and USask on a variety of topics in the fields of rehabilitation sciences and kinesiology, along with virtual podium presentations by researchers from both universities.

“In our conference evaluation survey, most said they really enjoyed the virtual experience, with the only downside being fewer opportunities for informal networking with colleagues during breaks,” said conference chair Dr. Jacquie Ripat, Associate Dean of Research at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

The closing panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Scotty Butcher from USask, featured four speakers discussing different ways technology can be used in rehabilitation care, education and research, and how COVID-19 has brought in a “new normal”: Kregg Ochitwa, owner of North 49 Physical Therapy in Saskatoon; Dr. Stacey Lovo, associate professor, School of Rehabilitation Science, USask; Dr. Scott Lear, professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University; and Dr. Brian MacNeil, associate professor of physical therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

“I’ve described this as forced discovery of new processes and it’s been overwhelmingly positive,” said MacNeil, whose presentation focused on using video as a way to virtually teach clinical skills. He pointed to how the college used an online format for the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) exams in March, days after COVID-19 restrictions forced the closure of UM’s campuses.

“Essentially we had students view clinical scenarios and evaluate what they saw happening, and I think that has some untapped potential to it,” he said. “When they do move into clinics as practicing clinicians, we’re going to be quickly asking them to supervise students and this is an excellent preparation for that.”

Lear, who spoke about virtual cardiac rehabilitation, said virtual models of care can be cost effective and can also reduce wait times.

“My concern is that once things return to some kind of pre-pandemic normal, some programs will just go back to their old ways,” he said.

Lear added there are many reasons that virtual care can be used alongside in-person care. “It’s not just for people geographically distanced, but also people who are working and can’t come during the nine-to-five hours that the hospital programs are open.”

The event also featured a keynote address by Dr. Catherine Donnelly, associate professor at the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, who talked about her work with Oasis Senior Supportive Living in Kingston, Ont., a “naturally occurring retirement community” designed by seniors for seniors.

“We know that approximately 25 per cent of older adults report feeling social isolation – and this was before COVID,” she said, noting that a survey her team conducted with older adults from primary care and Oasis settings have pointed to increased feelings of isolation and loneliness since the start of the pandemic. “Reports of isolation have tripled, feelings of loneliness have almost doubled and 50 per cent of people feel that they lack companionship.”

Jacqui Ladwig of the Applied Health Sciences program took top prize in the PhD category for her presentation based on ExplorAbility, a dance program for adults with cognitive and/or physical disabilities that she created at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 2009 and continues to teach today.

“We concluded that to fully represent the voices and experiences of those who live with disability, it is imperative that we consider ways to evolve and adapt traditional research tools to be inclusive of a range of abilities,” she said.

Kevin Boreskie, one of the other PhD award winners, was part of the organizing committee for the conference. He said one of the aims of the conference was to find ways to still be dynamic in the age of virtual conferences.

“Prior virtual conferences I had been to during the pandemic were very static and there was minimal interaction, especially for students,” he said. “We tried to fix this by having live poster presentations in concurrent rooms with live questions, hosting a panel discussion, and hosting discussion rooms in the evening.”

Full list of award winners:

Master’s presentations

• First place: Chelsea Scheller, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences – Users of Private Physiotherapy Services do not Reflect the Overall Population in an Urban Centre
• Second place: Ganesh Tailor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, UM – How Does Susceptibility to the Müller-Lyer Illusion Vary with Autistic Trait Expression?
• Third place: Eman Abdulhadi, College of Medicine, USask – The Role of Practitioners in Indigenous Wellness – Health Provider Learning with Cultural Responsiveness Training

PhD presentations

• First place: Jacqui Ladwig, Applied Health Sciences, UM – Adapting our Perspective of Known Research Methodologies: Reflecting on the Methodological Challenges of the ExplorAbility Pilot Study
• Second place: Kevin Boreskie, Applied Health Sciences, UM – Age is Just a Number – and so is Frailty: Strategies to Inform Resource Allocation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Third place: Liz Harvey, department of physical therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences – Stories, Data, and Images: Using an Arts-Informed Approach as a Public Engagement Strategy

The event will take place Oct. 1-2, with 11 PhD students and 15 master’s students from UM and USask presenting their work on a variety of research topics in the fields of rehabilitation sciences and kinesiology, along with virtual podium presentations by researchers from both universities.

Dr. Catherine Donnelly, associate professor at the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, will hold the keynote address, titled “Collaborating to support systems integration” on Oct. 1 at 4 pm. Donnelly’s educational research explores interdisciplinary education and the integration of theory to practice. She recently started a new position as director of the Health Services and Policy Research Institute at Queen’s University.

“Much of my work has been focused on how teams work together and provide care, and how patients are involved in that process,” Donnelly said. “I’ll be looking at heath systems and collaboration at the systems level, and how we can start to think more broadly about what collaboration can look like and how we can support care for patients by working across systems and sectors.”

Originally from Barrie, Ont., Donnelly has been at Queen’s University since 2004. She still works clinically one day a week at the Queen’s Family Health Team’s site in Bellville, Ont.

Following Donnelly’s presentation, the event will feature four virtual lounges. Hosts from UM include Dr. Patty Thille, assistant professor, department of physical therapy, Dr. Moni Fricke, director of the Office of Interprofessional Collaboration, and Dr. Laura MacDonald, associate professor at the School of Dental Hygiene. Dr. Cathy Arnold and Dr. Teresa Paslawski from USask will also host a session.

“These will be informal discussions led by experts, much like being in a lounge, but from the comfort of home,” said Dr. Jacquie Ripat, event chair and associate dean of research at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

The virtual conference will conclude on Oct 2 with a panel presentation discussion on delivering remote education and health care, and conducting research using remote and virtual means.

Registration is still open. For more information and to register, visit the UM events calendar.

The College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, hosted five members of the AUAS Faculty of Health on November 18 – 22. The visit included working sessions and discussions on three themes they plan to collaborate on: inter-professional education (IPE) research, working in and with communities and digital health technologies.

The universities were awarded a grant in June from the EU-funded Erasmus program to sponsor five lecturer/researchers from each facility to visit the other over the next two years. As part of the funding, representatives from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences will visit AUAS in 2020.

“We aim to bring new knowledge to our students, faculty and clinical community by promoting exchanges, collaborative research and new forms of outreach,” said Dr. Reg Urbanowski, dean, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

Dr. Margo van Hartingsveldt, head of the AUAS school of occupational therapy.

During the visit, AUAS dean Dr. Wilma Scholte op Reimer and Dr. Brian Postl, dean, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and vice-provost (Health Sciences), signed a declaration of intent to collaborate and advance shared education.

Among the highlights were a day trip to Lake Manitoba First Nation, where the college is involved in several initiatives through its Kiga mamo anokimin onji minoayawin project, and a visit to the Northern Connection Medical Centre, a Winnipeg-based primary care clinic that treats individuals from northern communities.

Dr. Margo van Hartingsveldt, head of the AUAS school of occupational therapy, said the visit to Lake Manitoba First Nation showed similarities between the universities’ involvement in community partnerships.

“The aim in both countries is setting up projects for students to learn and recognize the enormous benefits they can gain from engaging in research or education in the community,” she said. “For the U of M these projects are located in First Nation communities and for us, in the city of Amsterdam, in neighborhoods with many citizens with a low social economic position and a migration background.”

The college also hosted a series of Illuminate speaker sessions, where faculty members from both universities shared overviews of their research with each other and rehabilitation sciences students.

AUAS professor Bart Visser.

One of the sessions focused on digital health technology and featured AUAS professor Bart Visser, along with U of M occupational therapy associate professors Dr. Jacquie Ripat, Dr. Amine Choukou and Dr. Ed Giesbrecht. The session focused on mobile health applications for older adults and people in wheelchairs and the use of technology such as sensors and remote monitoring systems in health-care practice, areas of research that are growing for both faculties.

Visser said he found the similarities to the universities’ approach to digital health “striking,” including mobile health applications aimed at behavioral change that have been developed. He said there is great potential to work together in this area in the future.

“It is a necessity to broaden the collaboration with computer sciences and engineering at both universities to make digital health a success,” he said.

Urbanowski said the universities are finalizing details of faculty and student exchange agreements and developing an agreement on a joint research fund. 

One of the projects is aimed at creating a future where older adults will be able to live on their own longer thanks to sensors in their homes that track their health and help in their day-to-day lives. The other research team is developing a robotic device that patients with motor impairments will use to control a video game while simultaneously performing rehabilitation exercises.

The focus of the fund is on innovative collaborative research in the areas of telepresence, telehealth, telemonitoring and assistive technology.

CoRS research lead Dr. Jacquie Ripat  said that the two projects selected have the potential to be transformative. “They are innovative in terms of bringing teams together with a unique perspective that can make advancements on issues that people have identified as problematic,” Ripat said. “They’re innovative in terms of harnessing technology, harnessing the experience of computer science or engineering, along with health and rehab.”

To be eligible for CIRF funding the teams must include one CoRS full-time faculty member and student, and at least one full-time faculty member and student from the faculties of science, engineering or architecture. Funding support is from CoRS and the other faculties.

Smart suite

One research team is working to create a computer platform that they hope will one day help adults live on their own well into old age.

The computer platform is for the Smart Suite that’s being constructed by University of Manitoba researchers. The Smart Suite is a replica of living quarters and will be equipped with a variety of sensors to monitor the activities of people in the space.

Sensors inside the Smart Suite will include, for example, Doppler radar, motion sensors and smart floor mats equipped with pressure sensors. The sensors can monitor activities like time spent standing in the kitchen, frequency of hand-washing  and the distances walked at home on an average day.

The research team is creating a computer platform to compile and analyze all the data from the sensors in the Smart Suite, said Dr. Amine Choukou, assistant professor of occupational therapy, CoRS. 

“We’re building the brain of the Smart Suite,” he said.

After completing studies in the Smart Suite, the goal is to move the technology into people’s homes, Choukou said. The data collected in one’s home will train the computer to spot anomalies in a person’s behaviour, like if they stop bathing or cooking. The system could also alert emergency services and caregivers if a person falls.

“This is a huge market and a huge health cost reduction for the government,” Choukou said. “If we keep people at home, they can live independently for as much time as possible and we will avoid sending them inappropriately to long-term care facilities.”

Choukou also sees a future where doctors will gain access to the data collected in someone’s smart home. The doctor could review sleep patterns or look at how much time is spent standing or sitting down in front of the TV or computer and make recommendations, he said. Activity monitoring should be considered as a medical prescription preceding any decision to relocate an older adult to a long-term care facility, Choukou said.

The team, which received $50,000 in funding, includes Dr. Rasit Eskicioglu, associate professor of computer science, Faculty of Science; Dr. Pourang Irani, professor of computer science, Faculty of Science; and Dr. Ahmed Ashraf, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, Faculty of Engineering. 

Video game-assisted rehabilitation

Another team that was awarded CIRF funding is developing a robotic device, called a manipulandum, which enables a patient with limited hand or finger mobility to control a video game while performing rehabilitation exercises.

Dr. Tony Szturm plays a video game using a pair of kitchen tongs as a controller. The movement acts as a rehabilitation exercise. His team is working on a robotic device people will use to control a video game while performing hand and finger exercises.

The robotic device being developed will connect to a computer. The patient – who could have suffered a stroke or spinal cord injuries, or have multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease – will use the robotic device to do hand or finger exercises. Each movement they make with the robotic device will control the video game on a screen. The robotic device will assist the patient with the movements if it is too difficult or give resistance to make the movement harder. Over time, the robotic device will learn about the patient’s progress and increase the resistance as they improve.

Dr. Tony Szturm, professor of physical therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, said that by adding a gaming element, rehabilitation exercises become more interesting and engaging for the patient. When rehabilitation regimes are prescribed at home, adherence is often low because the exercises are uninteresting and tedious, he said, adding that people could be doing the exercises for 20 minutes per day for anywhere from three weeks to three years.

“I think the idea of having a smart manipulandum controller is very novel,” Szturm said. “It applies to a lot of different patient populations. The arm and hand function is really important for people and I think it’s something that is neglected otherwise.”

Szturm said another advantage of using video games as part of rehabilitation is the data generated from game play. The data can reveal patient progress like response time, movement time and movement accuracy. These stats could support changes to the rehabilitation regime.

The goal is to create an affordable model that patients will turn to in their homes, he said.

“As we prove that people will actually use this at home, then insurance companies and the government are going to say ‘OK, let’s do it.’ If patients don’t do this and if they don’t get better, we have to provide them home care which is way more costly for years and years and years,” he said.

Szturm is a member of the research team, which received $32,000 in CIRF funding, alongside Dr. Nariman Sepehri, professor of mechanical engineering, Faculty of Engineering; and Dr. Rasit Eskicioglu, associate professor of computer science, Faculty of Science.

That experience in clinical work was the impetus that sparked Giesbrecht’s research on mobility issues. Now, as a researcher and assistant professor in the department of occupational therapy in the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CoRS), he is able to focus his work on enabling people to do the things that are important to them.

“My specific research is around people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids,” he says. “My work looks at the various aspects of how to improve participation for those people, whether it’s the kind of equipment they use; accessibility in the environment; or looking at how we can provide better skills to use the equipment they already have.”

Giesbrecht is currently involved in a series of projects that provide better skills to people to be able to use their wheelchairs more effectively.

“As simple as it might look, using a wheelchair and overcoming barriers that exist can be quite challenging,” Giesbrecht says. “We have looked at different ways that we can provide training to people to improve their use of their wheelchairs. For my doctoral dissertation we developed a home training program that could be delivered using a computer tablet and people could learn skills and practice in their chairs so they’re better able to engage in their environment.”

Giesbrecht is also looking forward to working with (CoRS) research lead Dr. Jacquie Ripat on a project focusing on the unique challenges brought about by Manitoba’s snowy climate.

“We’re hoping to create an obstacle course that we can use for the evaluation of equipment and training people on how to use their wheelchair in winter and looking at the winter-specific challenges for people using mobility devices,” he says.

Working on these research projects, Giesbrecht derives satisfaction from the people he interacts with.

“When we do studies and he hear from the participants about how this has improved their lives and changed their ability to do what they want to do, that’s always an incredible reinforcement for continuing in this area of research,” he says. “Our calling is to look after each other as a community and we need to work collaboratively to ensure our communities support each other. I think that’s what health care delivery and research is all about, to ensure that we all have access and all can be part of the community.”

To take a more in depth look at these challenges, the Winter Wheeled Mobility research group recently met to identify and discuss the barriers that face people who use wheeled mobility devices like wheelchairs and scooters in the winter.

Gathering in the CanadInns at the Health Sciences Centre, and facilitated by Dr. Jacquie Ripat, associate professor of Occupational Therapy, the meeting brought together over 30 researchers, graduate students, service providers and people who use wheeled mobility devices.

“Winter’s hard for all of us,” Ripat said. “We need to know what the challenges are so we can come up with innovative ways to address these issues.”

A main pillar of the research consisted of a survey that went out to nearly 100 Manitobans who use wheelchairs or scooters. Of the survey participants, 42 per cent reported that they went outside less frequently during the winter months, increasing feelings of isolation and limiting community participation.

Some of the barriers identified were environmental, such as improperly cleared sidewalks. Other respondents identified issues with wheelchairs and scooters, such as tires that get stuck in the snow or slip on icy ramps.

Recommendations that came out of the research included increasing awareness of issues regarding accessibility; addressing the specialty service needs of people who use wheelchairs and scooters; and devising new policies regarding snow clearing in the city and across the province.

“All these issues are intertwined,” Ripat said. “A multi-dimensional approach is needed to mitigate barriers to community participation by wheeled mobility device users in winter.”