| Based upon current theories of motor behaviour where balance is believed to be task and context specific, I have developed a methodology based upon body fixed kinematic sensors for assessing balance during standing and walking. An advantage of wearable technology over traditional laboratory equipment, is its portability which allows a variety of environmental conditions, including clinical and everyday settings, complying with important ecological validity requirements. A number of objections have been raised against kinematic sensors in the past, the most important being drift and an uncontrollable gravity component caused by a tilted device. This is of relevance for our methodology, which is based upon measurements from reference points over the lumbar spine of a moving subject. We have solved these problems using recent gyro enhanced sensors and tailor-made software, and have demonstrated how these procedures dramatically improve validity of measures used to assess locomotor control.
Most parameters derived from clinical gait analysis are speed dependent. This includes commonly reported measures like step length, cadence (step frequency), and also movements of the trunk. Nevertheless, a common procedure has been to test subjects walking at their preferred speed only, which may vary considerably between tests and subjects. I have suggested an alternative procedure, where each subject walk at different self-administered speeds, while gait parameters are estimated at a standardized common speed. I have demonstrated how this procedure may disclose important aspects of locomotor control which may otherwise be camouflaged. Recent and ongoing research includes studies of variability as noise and as adaptability. By properly interpreting variability in locomotor control, we hope to further improve the clinical usefulness of gait analysis.
In pursuing these goals, I have initiated the establishment of a movement laboratory at our department based on portable equipment including body fixed sensors, a GAITRite electronic walkway for gait cycle analysis, a dynamometry system for strength measurements, and a custom-made photocell system for measuring gait speed. All equipment allow continuous-scale, fine-graded measurements and can be used outside a laboratory environment. This approach has allowed us to initiate and to participate in joint ventures across professional and geographical boundaries, including a diversity of scientific approaches and research questions.
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Employment
- 1967-1983 Chairman and Publisher, John Grieg Printing & Publishing Co.,
- 1980-1988 Editor, "Trim & Trening" popular science journal
- 1986 Physiotherapy Internship, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen
- 1986 Physiotherapy Internship, Fyllingsdalen Nursing Home
- 1987-1991 Lecturer and consultant (time-work), College of Physiotherapy, Bergen
- 1987-1991 Physiotherapist, Bergen Occupational Health Service
- 1991-1993 General manager, Bergen Occupational Health Service
- 1993-1995 Assistant professor, Section for Physiotherapy Science, UoB
- 1995-1999 Research fellow, Section for Physiotherapy Science, UoB
- 1999-2000 Associate professor, Section for Physiotherapy Science, UoB
- 2000-2003 Postdoctoral Fellow, Section for Physiotherapy Science, UoB
- 2003-2004 Senior researcher, Section for Physiotherapy Science, UoB
- 2004 Professor, Section for Physiotherapy Science, UoB
| Oral presentations at international conferences
- Motor Control Conference, Varna, Bulgaria 2000
- 4nd meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Zurich 2001
- Int. Society of Postural and Gait Research, Maastricht 2001
- 5rd meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Utrecht 2002
- 6th meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Utrecht 2003
- Int. Society of Postural and Gait Research, Sydney 2003 (session chairman)
- Nordic conference on Human Movement Science, Trondheim 2003
- 7th meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Barcelona 2004
- Nordic conference on Human Movement Science, Bergen 2004
- 8th meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Barcelona 2005
- 9th meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Lausanne 2006
- Nordic conference on Human Movement Science, Trondheim 2006
- 10th meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Stuttgart 2007
- 11th meeting Mobility and Exercise in the Elderly, Vinci (Firenze) 2008
| Invited lectures at international conferences
- "Measuring balance and gait under natural conditions", Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen 1996
- "IT Workshop", 4th Nordic Physiotherapy Research Symposium, Stockholm, 1997
- "Variability in gait - a theoretical model", International Symposium: Practice, Theory and Education, Gøteborg, 1997
- "Ambulatory methodology for movement analysis", Panum Inst. University of Copenhagen 1997
- "Modification of gait during back pain", Norsk forening for ryggforskning, Oslo 2000
- "Movement science", Panum Inst. University of Copenhagen 2000
- "Assessment of balance function", 5th European Conference of Gerontology, Barcelona 2003
- "The effect of gait speed on gait parameters", 1st European Gaitrite Users' meeting, Geneva University Hospital 2003
- "Improving balance in elderly fallers", The Swedish Society of Medicine, (Svenska Läkaresällskapet), Stockholm 2003
- "Gait variability in elderly persons", 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich 2006
- "The science behind measuring postural stability and gait", 8th Int. Conference on Falls and Postural Stability, British Geriatrics Society, Birmingham 2007
- "Variability in motor function. Adaptability, impaired control - or simply: measurement error?" 5th Motor Control Conference, Sofia 2007
| Lectures at research courses and workshops
- Initiator and lecturer, Nordic physiotherapy research consensus meeting on method comparison studies, (University of Bergen, NorFA, Halvorsbøle 1998
- Initiator and chief lecturer, Nordic research workshop on signal processing, UoB 2001
- Initiator and chief lecturer, Nordic research workshop on reliability statistics, UoB 2001
- Lecturer, Nordic research course on clinical studies, Lund University 2003
- Chief lecturer, Norwegian research course on reliability statistics, UoB 2003
- Initiator and chief lecturer, Nordic research workshop on locomotor control, UoB 2004
- Initiator and chief lecturer, International research workshop on gait analysis, UoB 2006
- Chief lecturer, PhD-course on method evaluation, UoB 2007
- Chief lecturer, PhD-course on method evaluation, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences 2007
| Teaching and supervision
- Teaching at up-grading courses and university MSc programs in physiotherapy
- Supervision of clinical researchers, MSc students and PhD students
| International research
- Member, EU Commission Expert Working Group on "Postural Stability and Preventing Falls in the Elderly Population", Brussels 2001
- Member of the EC network PROFANE (Prevention of Falls Network Europe)
- Evaluation of balance measures, National Institute of Rehabilitation & Geriatrics, Florence, Italy
- Dyslexia and motor behaviour, Centre for Reading Research, Stavanger/University of Sheffield/Oxford University
- Recovery of gait after operative intervention, Strängnäs Clinic of Spinal Surgery, Sweden
- Effect of fatigue on standing balance, Lund University, Sweden
- Method development, Parker Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Clinical methods for assessing balance control and risk of falling, a review, with University of Umeå, Sweden
| | Referee work
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- Clinical Rehabilitation
- Research in Sports Medicine
- International Journal of Sports Medicine
- Perceptual and Motor Skills
- Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
- Advances in Physiotherapy
- Brain
- Experimental Brain Research
- Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing
- Journal of Biomechanics
- European Journal of Neurology
- Gait & Posture
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
| | Societies
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- Norwegian Physiotherapist Association
- European Society of Movement Analysis in Adults and Children
- International Society of Postural and Gait Research
- Royal Statistical Society
| | Doctoral thesis
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- Moe-Nilssen R. Trunk accelerometry. A new method for assessing balance under various task and environmental constraints. Doctoral thesis. Bergen: University of Bergen, 1999. ISBN 82-91232-20-2
| | Selected publications
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- Aaslund MK, Moe-Nilssen R. Treadmill walking with body weight support. Effect of treadmill, harness and body weight support systems. Gait & Posture 2008; 28(2):303-308.
- Moe-Nilssen R, Nordin E, Lundin-Olsson L. Criteria for evaluation of measurement properties of clinical balance measures for use in fall prevention studies. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 2008; 14(2):236-40
- Hodt-Billington C, Helbostad JL, Moe-Nilssen R. Should trunk movement or footfall parameters quantify gait asymmetry in chronic stroke patients? Gait & Posture 2007; 27(4):552-8
- Moe-Nilssen R, Helbostad JL, Åkra T, Birkedal L, Nygaard HA. Modulation of gait during visual adaptation to dark. Journal of Motor Behavior 2006; 38(2):118-25
- Moe-Nilssen R, Helbostad JL. Interstride trunk acceleration variability but not step width variability can differentiate between fit and frail older adults. Gait & Posture 2005; 21(2):164-170.
- Helbostad JL, Askim T, Moe-Nilssen R. Short term repeatability of body sway during quiet standing in persons with hemiparesis and in old frail persons. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004; 85(6):993-999
- Helbostad J, Sletvold O, Moe-Nilssen R. Effects of home exercises and group training on functional abilities in home-dwelling older persons with mobility and balance problems. A randomized study. Aging Clin Exp Res 2004; 16:113-121
- Helbostad JL, Sletvold O, Moe-Nilssen R. Home training with and without additional group training in frail old persons living at home: Effect on health related quality of life and ambulation. Clin Rehabil 2004; 18(5):498-508
- Henriksen M, Lund H, Moe-Nilssen R, Bliddal H, Danneskiold-Samsøe B. Test-retest reliability of trunk accelerometric gait analysis. Gait & Posture 2004; 19(3):288-297
- Moe-Nilssen R, Helbostad JL. Estimation of gait cycle characteristics by trunk accelerometry. J Biomech 2004; 37(1):121-126
- Adlerton AK, Moritz U, Moe-Nilssen R. Force-plate and accelerometer measures for evaluating the effect of muscle fatigue on postural control during one leg stance. Physiother Res Int 2003; 8(4):187-199
- Helbostad JL, Moe-Nilssen R. The effect of gait speed on lateral balance control during walking in healthy elderly. Gait & Posture 2003; 18(2):27-36
- Moe-Nilssen R, Helbostad JL, Talcott JB, Toennessen FE. Balance and gait in children with dyslexia. Exp Brain Res 2003; 150(2):237-244
- Moe-Nilssen R, Helbostad JL. Trunk accelerometry as a measure of balance control during quiet standing. Gait & Posture 2002; 16(1):60-68
- Moe-Nilssen R, Ljunggren AE, Torebjork E. Dynamic adjustments of walking behavior dependent on noxious input in experimental low back pain. Pain 1999; 83(3):477-485
- Moe-Nilssen R. A new method for evaluating motor control in gait under real-life environmental conditions. Part 1: The instrument. Clin Biomech 1998; 13(4-5):320-327
- Moe-Nilssen R. A new method for evaluating motor control in gait under real-life environmental conditions. Part 2: Gait analysis. Clin Biomech 1998; 13(4-5):328-335
- Moe-Nilssen R. Test-retest reliability of trunk accelerometry during standing and walking. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998; 79(11):1377-1385
Home page Department
Home page University
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, last
updated 23.09.08
Hogne.Sandvik@isf.uib.no
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Date of birth: August 23, 1942