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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Mobility Lab

Lead Researcher - Kristin Musselman

Research Platforms

Assessing Body Structure and Function
Digital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
SCI Mobility Lab logo

Research Overview

The SCI Mobility Lab aims to increase rehabilitation research and clinical capacity through innovations in assessment and care delivery. Our research objectives include:

  1. Evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of novel approaches to balance training and fall prevention for individuals with spinal cord injury/disease, stroke and cerebral palsy
  2. Developing educational resources and implementation strategies for the use of functional electrical stimulation in neurorehabilitation practice. 
  3. Developing tools that measure participation and outcomes of therapies targeting the neuromuscular system affected by sensorimotor loss.

Research Projects

Through the Lens of People with Spinal Cord Injury: Using Photovoice to Prevent Falls
Losing Balance to Prevent Falls after Spinal Cord Injury

People

Collaborators

  • Dr. Kei Masani, Senior Scientist, KITE-University Health Network; Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Cesar Marquez Chin, Scientist, KITE-University Health Network; Assistant Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Sarah Munce, Scientist, KITE-University Health Network; Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Hardeep Singh, Scientist, KITE-University Health Network; Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Cathy Craven, Senior Scientist, KITE-University Health Network; Professor, Department of Medicine
  • Dr. José Zariffa, Senior Scientist, KITE-University Health Network; Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Dalton Wolfe, Scientist, Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Care London

Staff

  • Katherine Chan MSc, Clinical Research Coordinator, KITE-University Health Network

Trainees

  • Matthew Heffernan MSc, RKin, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
  • Natasha Benn MScPT, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
  • Nicole Cesca MScPT, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
  • Elina Provad MScPT, PhD Candidate, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
  • Yasma Ali-Hassan MScPT, PhD Student, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto
  • Arya Raha BSc, MSc Student, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto

Join Us

Contact: For more information contact Kristin Musselman at kristin.musselman@utoronto.ca

Knowledge Translation

Knowledge Translation

Podcast created by SCI Mobility Lab Members

FES Toolkit

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a valuable therapeutic tool for the restoration and retraining of voluntary motor function, and is commonly used in the treatment of patients with spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. The FES Toolkit was developed to help physical therapists, occupational therapists and kinesiologists use FES in their clinical practice. The information and resources within the toolkit were developed from research evidence, clinical expertise and experiences teaching courses on FES. The toolkit may be shared, copied and distributed, with the authors of the toolkit recognized.

Musselman KE, Marquez Chin C, Salbach NM, Chan K, Heffernan M, Fernandez N, Miller S, Singh H, Switzer-McIntyre S, Gauthier C, Marshall S, Johnston G, Kaiser A, Riendeau M, Al-anizi O. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Toolkit. First ed. 2024.

FES Toolkit (pdf)

FES Toolkit (epub)