Better Mobility Lab
How do I safely use my walking aid?
We developed an app that teaches people how to fit and walk with walking aids, like canes, crutches, and walkers. We want people to be safe when using walking aids. We are looking for people to test our app!
Eligibility
Currently recruiting participants: Yes
Eligible gender: Male, Female, Transgender, Other
Eligible ages: 6 to 120
Accepts healthy participants: Yes
Inclusion criteria:
1. You use a walking aid (crutches, cane, walker) most of the time that you walk
Exclusion criteria:
1. You use a wheelchair most of your waking time
2. You cannot comfortably communicate in English
Want to learn more or want to participate?
How do your hormones affect your joints?
We want to understand how female hormones across the menstrual cycle affect the knee in people with and without conditions that cause loose joints.
The clinical conditions we are interested in studying are Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).
We also want to compare our findings to people with no history of these conditions.
Eligibility
Currently recruiting participants: Yes
Eligible gender: Male, Female, Transgender, Other
Eligible ages: 18 to 35
Accepts healthy participants: Yes
Inclusion criteria:
1. Age 18 - 35
2. Female sex
3. Regular menstrual cycles (every 25 - 31 days for at least the past 1 year)
We are looking for people EITHER with
1. A diagnosis of Hypermobile Spectrum Disorders or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, OR
2. People who do not have these conditions and are otherwise healthy
Exclusion criteria:
1. Estrogen or progesterone use (oral, transdermal, depo, vaginal) in the last 3 months
2. Testosterone use (oral, intramuscular, transdermal) in the last 3 months
3. Corticosteroid use (oral, intramuscular, intravenous) in the last 3 months
4. Pregnant within the last 12 months
5. Currently breastfeeding
6. Previous right knee injury
7. Other connective tissue disorder (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Down syndrome, etc.)
8. Using a wheelchair for day-to-day mobility
Want to learn more or want to participate?
Understanding Cognition in People with Joint Hypermobility
People diagnosed with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) may experience a range of symptoms including joint injuries, chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, and more. Little is known about how hypermobility affects specific cognitive domains such as memory, attention, and information processing speed.
In this study, we will ask people living with HSD/hEDS and people who are otherwise healthy to complete a series of thinking tests.
Participants will receive a $15 Tim Horton's gift card in appreciation of their time.
Eligibility
Currently recruiting participants: Yes
Eligible gender: Male, Female, Transgender, Other
Eligible ages: 18 to 39
Accepts healthy participants: Yes
Inclusion criteria:
1. Age 18 to 39
2. Able to comfortably communicate in English
3. Either:
a) Diagnosed with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) or hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)
OR b) Healthy
Exclusion criteria:
You are not eligible to participate if you:
1. Are unable to comfortably speak and understand English
2. Have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a learning disability, or multiple sclerosis
3. You have experienced a traumatic brain injury and/or stroke before
Want to learn more or want to participate?
Biomechanical effects of Agilik powered knee-ankle-foot-orthosis
This study aims to measure the best ankle-foot-orthoses to be used with the Bionic Power Agilik knee exoskeleton to maximize benefits of the device to the wearer. This study will evaluate 3-5 different AFOs during walking in a lab that allows us to measure joint angles and forces while you walk. This research will help us determine the most effective use cases for the Agilik exoskeleton.
Eligiblity
Currently recruiting participants: Yes
Eligible gender: Male, Female, Transgender, Other
Eligible ages: 5 to 29
Accepts healthy participants: Yes
Inclusion criteria:
1. Age range: 5-29
2. Bilateral gait pathology with limited knee extension such as, but not limited to crouch gait from a diagnosis of cerebral palsy
3. Able to walk at least 3 meters without stopping (without a walking aid)
4. Height between 3’8” - 5’11” (112- 180cm)
Exclusion criteria:
1. Children below the age of 5 years
2. Orthoprosthesis
3. Patient is unable to initiate swing phase.
4. Moderate to severe spasticity (as determined by the clinician).
5. Flexion contracture of more than 10° in the knee and/or hip joint
6. Body mass greater than 275 lbs/125 kg