Professor Graham Kerr

Research interests

Posture, Balance, Gait and Falls in Older People: this research examines the effects of ageing on postural stability and the occurrence of falls. Several projects are underway as part of an NHMRC Injury Prevention Partnership, Prevention of Older Peoples Injuries.

• Effects of actual and simulated visual deficits, standing balance and walking and the relationship to falls
• Neurological disease and falls
• Cardiovascular and aerobic risk factors for falls in older people.

Central nervous system and movement disorders

Parkinson’s Disease

• Evaluating posture and balance control and predisposition to falls in Parkinson’s Disease
• Prediction of driving performance in Parkinson’s Disease
• Posture and limb tremor relationships in Parkinson’s Disease.

Spinal Cord Injury

• Repair of the injured spinal cord: trialling potential cell therapies.

Proprioceptive control of movement

This research provides fundamental knowledge of the role of proprioceptive information in the coordination and control of arm movements. This project examines how arm movements are affected by alterations in

• afferent information from different muscles
• vestibular afferents
• mechanical properties of the arm
• neurological conditions in which there are proprioceptive deficits.

This knowledge is essential for development of technology for human-machine interfaces, neurally controlled prostheses, and effective rehabilitation procedures.

Control of Visually Guided Arm Movements

This research examines the control of visually guided movements during pointing, reaching and tracking tasks. This research is directed at understanding how and when visual information is used to control arm movements and how this is affected by ageing, visual impairment and neurological disease.