Therapeutic Horticulture with Wearable Sensor Feedback to Improve Balance and Mobility After Stroke
Faculty Information
Name:
Dr. Sharareh Sharififar
Email
sharareh75@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-8453
Faculty Department/Division
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
This project is primarily:
Clinical
Research Project Description:
This pilot study explores how wearable motion sensors can quantify postural stability and balance recovery during therapeutic horticulture activities in individuals with chronic stroke. Students will assist with data collection, sensor calibration, and analysis of movement and balance metrics as participants engage in meaningful, real-world tasks such as reaching, carrying, and walking on varied surfaces. The project combines rehabilitation science, biomechanics, and technology to develop scalable, community-based approaches for stroke recovery.
MSRP students will gain experience in clinical research coordination, data handling using wearable sensor technology, and interpretation of gait and balance metrics under supervision of the PI and research team.
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No
Investigating the Impact of Walking Direction and Incline on Physiological Measures in Healthy Adults Across Age Groups
Faculty Information
Name:
Dr. Sharareh Sharififar
Email
sharareh75@ufl.edu
Phone
(352) 273-8453
Faculty Department/Division
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
This project is primarily:
Clinical
Research Project Description:
This study investigates the physiological responses to backward incline walking compared to forward walking under different conditions and across age groups. While both backward walking and incline walking independently increase cardiopulmonary demand, their combined effects remain understudied.
The central hypothesis is that backward incline walking elicits greater cardiometabolic demand (e.g., oxygen consumption and heart rate) compared to forward and level walking, with potential differences between younger and older adults.
This experimental study will include 36 participants (18–35 and 60–75 years). Participants will complete four treadmill walking conditions in randomized order: forward level, forward incline, backward level, and backward incline. Each condition will last five minutes with rest intervals in between.
Physiological outcomes will include oxygen consumption (VOâ‚‚), ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Safety monitoring will include angina and dyspnea scores.
Data analysis will involve descriptive statistics and group comparisons using non-parametric tests, as well as correlation analyses between physiological and subjective measures.
The medical student will:
Assist with participant recruitment and testing sessions
Help collect and organize physiological data
Perform basic data analysis
Contribute to abstract/manuscript preparation
Does this project have an international component or travel?
No