• Rachel L. Boehm
• Kaylena A. Ehgoetz Martens
• Matthew Lasswell
• Frederico Pierucinni-Faria
• Carolina Rodrigues Alves Silveira
• Rodrigo Vitorio

Faculty:  Faculty of Science
University:  Wilfrid Laurier University
Hometown:  Kitchener, Ontario
Program:  Masters of Science, Kinesiology and Physical Education
Supervisor:  Dr. Quincy J. Almeida

Awards Received

2011 – Summer Student Fellowship Award from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (United States)
2011 – Entrance scholarships from Wilfrid Laurier University
2011 – Graduate Fellowship from Wilfrid Laurier University
2010 – Undergraduate research award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Institute of Aging: Mobility, Musculoskeletal health and Arthritis)
2010 – Entrance scholarships from Wilfrid Laurier University
2010 – Graduate Fellowship from Wilfrid Laurier University
2009 – Summer Student Fellowship Award from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (United States)

Research Projects

· Measuring the disease progression in patients with PD
· Understanding the contribution of disease symptoms on upper-limb proprioception (limb
  awareness in PD)
· Investigating the role of sensory-based exercise rehabilitation in the management of PD


Research Interests

· Movement disorders and other clinical populations
· Disease progression in PD
· Evaluating appropriate outcome measures for the assessment of PD symptoms
· Exercise-based rehabilitation
· Proprioception (limb awareness) in PD


What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

In a non-clinical setting, it is paramount for patients to know what to expect with their diagnosis of PD. Currently, the progression of PD is only measured with clinical tools which might not be very meaningful to patients and caregivers. Instead, measuring the progression of PD using performance-based measures could provide useful information to patients.

In a clinical setting, understanding the progression of PD, specifically the disease symptoms and functionality, can help facilitate new treatment strategies. In all, the results of this thesis will hopefully allow for a more individual approach to the management of PD and can be a stepping stone to future research regarding the progression of the disease.


Why did you decide to study movement disorders, especially in the area of Parkinson's disease?  

During my first class with Dr. Almeida at WLU, he mentioned the research-based exercise rehabilitation program for people with Parkinson’s disease at MDRC and invited interested students to assist with the program. I had very little experience with movement disorders and when I began volunteering, it was love at first sight! 

I loved the interaction with the participants, helping with the exercises, and learning about the different research techniques at the MDRC. Those experiences lead me to enroll in Dr. Almeida’s course on movement disorders and the associated brain anatomy, where I learned the necessary background to understand Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. 

After that class, Dr. Almeida and I applied for and received an international award from the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (U.S.). That began my long reign of being one of the instructors for the exercise rehabilitation program (which has been incredible!). After I completed my undergraduate thesis on exercise rehabilitation and PD, I was motivated to continue my research on PD. This led me to my Masters of Science thesis where I investigated the progression of PD using a variety of outcome measures/assessment tools.

At the end of the day, I am so blessed to have had the numerous opportunities to learn about Parkinson’s disease, to work with quality researchers and to share so many memories with the research participants.  After the completion of my MSc. thesis, I hope to continue to work with people living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.


Conference Presentations

Boehm, R., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Knobl,P., Ehgoetz Martens, K., Rodrigues Alves Silveira, C., & Almeida, Q.  Contributions of symptom laterality and hand dominance on proprioception in Parkinson's disease.  Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Leaning and Sport Psychology.  Halifax, Nova Scotia. (November 2012).

Boehm, R., & Almeida, Q.  Measuring functional progression of Parkinson's disease.  Presented at the 16th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders.  Dublin, Ireland.  (June 2012).

Boehm, R., Almeida, Q., & Knobl, P.  Sensory attention focused exercise in Parkinson's disease:  A randomized double-crossover trial.  Presented at The Movement Disorder Society's 15th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders.  Toronto, Ontario.  (June 2011).

Boehm, R., & Almeida, Q.  The effects of sensory attention focused exercise on mentation, behaviour and mood for Parkinson's disease.  Presented at the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity.  Burlington, Vermont.  (June 2011).

Boehm, R., & Almeida, Q.  Functional implications of the relationships between functional motor tests, clinical motor assessment and self-report of motor function in PD with exercise rehabilitation.  Presented at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology.  Ottawa, Ontario.  (October 2010).

Almeida, Q.J., Sage, M.D., & Boehm, R.L. Canada’s head-to-head exercise rehabilitation challenge for Parkinson’s disease: A systematic comparison of the most effective strategies for symptom imporvement. Presented at the XVIII WFN World Congress on Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders. Miami Beach, United States. (2009)

Faculty:  Psychology
University:  University of Waterloo
Hometown:  Stratford, Ontario
Program:  Ph.D. Cognitive Neuroscience
Research Supervisor:  Dr. Colin Ellard; co-supervised by Dr. Quincy J. Almeida

Awards Received:
2012          Outstanding Achievements in Graduate Studies – University of Waterloo
2012-2015  Doctoral Research Award – CIHR/ Parkinson Society Canada
2012-2015  President’s Graduate Scholarship – University of Waterloo
2011-2012  Ontario Graduate Scholarship – Ontario Ministry of Training, University & College
2011-2012  President’s Graduate Scholarship – University of Waterloo
2010-2011  Master’s Award - CIHR
2010-2011  President’s Graduate Scholarship – University of Waterloo
2010          Undergraduate Student Research Award - NSERC
2009-2010  NCR Waterloo Science Scholarship – Wilfrid Laurier University
2009 -2010 Student Horizon Alumni Award – Wilfrid Laurier University


Research Projects

• Investigationg how anxiety might influence movement in PD.
• Understanding whether processing delays in PD contribute to movement impairments
• Investigating how perception of distance and self-motion contributes to movement impairments and freezing of gait
• Examining the effects of dopamine on freezing of gait and how sensory processing and integration contributes to freezing of gait when passing through doorways in Parkinson’s disease
• Examine whether optic flow contributes to freezing of gait in left-side affected and right-side affected PD
• Exploring whether sensory deficits influence veering differently in left-side and right-side affected PD 


Research Interests

• Sensorimotor control systems
• Perceptual and motor deficits
• Freezing of gait and falls
• Rehabilitation
• Virtual reality
• Neural control of movement
• Physiological responses and limbic system contributions to movement
• Clinical populations and movement disorders


What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

• Develop future therapeutic interventions and formulate novel rehabilitative strategies to reduce falls, freezing of gait and other movement impairments commonly experienced in PD

• Contribute to a greater understanding of gait impairments and perceptual deficits in PD, and whether the basal ganglia have mediating effects on anxiety and emotion which is a prevalent non-motor symptom of PD.


Why did you decide to study movement disorders, especially in the area of Parkinson's disease?

My grandfather had Parkinson's which inspired me to volunteer with the exercise program offered here at the Centre throughout my undergraduate degree. I had the opportunity to work with a woman that had advanced PD and was wheelchair bound when we first met. For two years, I helped her struggle through exercises until she was eventually able to walk unassisted.  After seeing how much freedom movement gave her, I was then inspired and motivated to pursue research in Parkinson’s disease.


Publications:

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A. & Almeida, Q.J. (2012). Dissociating between sensory and perceptual deficits in PD: More than simply a motor deficit. Movement Disorders, 27(3), p.387-392.


Conference Presentations:

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Ellard, C.G., Almeida, Q.J. (2012) Perception of distance estimation does not differ in PD freezers and non-freezers: A relationship to disease severity? Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Ellard, C.G., Almeida, Q.J. (2012) Dopaminergic contributions to distance estimation: A perceptual or sensorimotor deficit? Movement Disorders, Dublin, Ireland

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Almeida, Q.J., Bloem, B.R. (2012) Effects of supramaximal dopaminergic replacement on freezing of gait when passing through doorways in Parkinson’s disease. International Society for Posture and Gait (ISPGR) & Gait and Mental Function, Trondheim, Norway 

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Almeida, Q.J. (2011) Investigating the relationship between veering in gait and proprioceptive feedback in L-PD and R-PD. Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Winnipeg, Manitoba

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Almeida, Q.J (2010) Proprioceptive Contributions to Freezing of Gait in Doorways. Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Ottawa, Ontario
  
Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Cinelli, M.E., Almeida, Q.J (2010) Height judgments and obstacle crossing in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), Tucson, Arizona

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Cinelli, M.E. (2010) Effects of aging on perception of height and obstacle crossing. Vision Sciences Society (VSS), Naples, Florida 

Faculty:  Faculty of Science
University:  Wilfrid Laurier University
Hometown:  Burlington, Ontario
Program: Kinesiology
Research Supervisor:  Dr. Quincy J. Almeida


Research Interests:

- Exercise rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease
- Freezing


What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

I would like to further improve the exercise rehabilitation programs that are offered at the MDRC.  In particular, I would like to host a program that can accommodate different levels of disease severity.

Why did you decide to study movement disorders?

My interest in helping those with Parkinson's was first sparked when I took Dr. Almeida's upper year movement disorders course.  My experiences with the participanats in the exercise rehabilitation programs that I have been part of have only furthered my desire to provide hope to those with Parkinson's disease.

Faculty:  Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience
University:  Wilfrid Laurier University
Hometown:  Sao Paulo/Sao Paulo-Brazil
Program:  Ph.D.
Research Supervisor:  Dr. Jeffery A. Jones; co-supervised by Dr. Quincy J. Almeida

Awards Received
2004 - 2006   2 years full scholarship from CNPq – Brazil – MSc (2004-2006)
2009 - 2013   4 year full scholarship from CNPq – Brazil – PhD (2009-2013)
June 2012      2nd place out of 367 at the Joint World Congress of the International Society for Posture & Gait Research and Gait & Mental Function in Trondheim, Norway


Research Projects

My work is focused on how PD patients use their cognitive resources and visual information to plan adaptive adjustments when stepping over an obstacle.


Research Interests

• Parkinson’s disease (PD)
• Adaptive gait
• Vision
• Attention
• Sensorimotor processing


What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

I hope to understand a little bit better if motor planning is influenced by deficits in cognitive/attentional resources and how visual information is used to plan an upcoming adaptive step (stepping over an obstacle).


Why did you decide to study movement disorders, especially in the area of Parkinson's disease?

Walking with obstacles is an important capacity that allows people to be independent to explore the environment around them. Independence to walk through a great variety of environments is very important to keep our quality of life and our organic integrity.

Neurological diseases such as PD may affect the capacity to walk uneven terrains putting patients in risk of falls or restricting their mobility which may cause loss of independence and loss of quality of life. I find this research topic fascinating. My studies have allowed me to better understand how the brain works during complex gait situations.  I hope that the results of my research may help in the development of more efficient therapeutic and/or rehabilitation strategies for people with PD.


Publications

Bhatt, H., Pieruccini-Faria, F., & Almeida, Q. J. (2012). Dynamics of turning sharpness influences freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.

Vitorio, R., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Stella, F., Gobbi, S., & Gobbi, L. T. (2010). Effects of obstacle height on obstacle crossing in mild Parkinson's disease. Gait & Posture, 31(1), 143-146.

Sánchez-Arias, M.D.R., Silveira, C.R.A., Caetano, M.J.D., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Gobbi, L.T.B., & Stella, F. (2008). Gait spatial and temporal predictors for functional capacity tests in Parkinson's disease patients. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 12(5), 359-365.

Stella, F., Gobbi, L.T., Gobbi, S., Oliani, M.M., Tanaka, K., & Pieruccini-Faria, F. (2007). Early impairment of cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease. Arquives of Neuropsiquiatry, 65(2B), 406-410.

Pieruccini-Faria, F., Menuchi, M.R.T.P., Vitório, R., Gobbi, L.T.B., Stella, F., & Gobbi, S. (2006). Kinematic parameters for gait with obstacles among elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, with and without levodopa: a pilot study. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 10(2), 233-239.


Conference Presentations

Pieruccini-Faria, F., Jones, J. & Almeida, Q. (2012) Influence of dual task and freezing of gait on obstacle crossing behaviour of patients with Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders Conference.  Dublin-Ireland

Pieruccini-Faria, F, Jones, J. and Almeida, Q.J. (2012) Motor planning is affected by cognitive load in Parkinson’s patients with freezing of gait (FOG) when approaching obstacles. International Society for Posture and Gait Research/Gait and Mental Function. Trondheim-Norway

Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi T.B.L., Vitorio R., Silveira C.R.A., Gobbi, S., Almeida, Q.J. (2010) Toe-clearance while stepping over obstacles of different heights is not influenced by dopaminergic treatment in Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders Society Conference, Buenos Aires-Argentina

Pieruccini-Faria, F., Vitorio, R., Gobbi, L.B., Silveira, C.R.A., Caetano, M.J.D., Almeida, Q.J. and Stella, F. (2011) Step width during obstacle crossing in patients with Parkinson's disease is a predictor of the UPDRS gait and posture clinical score: An 'on' and 'off' study. Movement Disorders Society Conference, Toronto-Canada

Pieruccini-Faria, F., Jones, J. and Almeida, Q.J. What visual source is more important for toe clearances and stability regulation during obstacle crossing? ISPGR conference, Trondheim-Norway, June-2012.

Tan, T., Almeida, Q.J., Pieruccini-Faria, F. The influence of cluttered environments on gait in older adults. ISPGR conference, Trondheim-Norway, June-2012.

Tan, T., Almeida, Q.J., Pieruccini-Faria, F. Influence of a cluttered environment on PD patients with severe gait impairments. Movement Disorders Society Conference, Toronto-Canada, June 2011.

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Almeida, Q.J. Proprioceptive Contributions to Freezing of Gait in Doorways. Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Psychology-SCAPPS, February-2011(Presented)

Ehgoetz Martens, K.A., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Almeida, Q.J., Bloem, B. Effects of supramaximal dopaminergic replacement on freezing of gait when passing through doorways in Parkinson’s disease. Trondheim-Norway, June 2012.

Bhatt, H., Almeida, Q.J. and Pieruccini-Faria, F. A dynamic influence of turning angles on freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease. North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity – NAPSPA, June 2011.

Boehm, Rachel L., Pieruccini-Faria, F., Knobl, Patricia E., Ehgoetz Martens, Kaylena A., Silveira, C.R.A., Almeida, Q.J. Contributions of symptom laterality and hand dominance on proprioception in Parkinson’s disease. Halifax – Canada, SCAPPS 2012

Pieruccini-Faria, F., Jones, A.J., Almeida, Q.J. Attentional modulation of foot placements when approaching an obstacle in Parkinson’s patients with freezing of gait. Halifax – Canada, SCAPPS 2012

Faculty:  Applied Health Sciences
University:  University of Waterloo
Hometown:  Franca / Sao Paulo-Brazil
Program:  Ph.D. Kinesiology
Research Supervisor:  Dr. Eric A. Roy; co-supervised by Dr. Quincy J. Almeida

Awards Received
- PhD scholarship from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico – CNPq (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation / Brazil)


Research Projects

• The effects of physical exercise on cognitive functions in Parkinson’s disease
• The influence of a speed visual cue in gait parameters of individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
• Gait and gaze behaviour of Parkinson’s disease patients who experience freezing of gait while walking through narrow spaces.


Research Interests

• Executive functions and Parkinson’s disease
• Physical exercise and Parkinson’s disease
• Gait
• Freezing of gait


What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

At the end of my PhD thesis, I hope to suggest whether physical exercise may be an efficient strategy to treat cognitive decline in PD.

Moreover, I hope that my independent studies contribute to the understanding of whether the freezing of gait phenomena is related to sensory and perceptual deficits.


Why did you decide to study movement disorders, especially in the area of Parkinson's disease?

My first experience working with Parkinson’s disease patients was at the Posture and Gait Studies Lab (LEPLO/UNESP/Brazil), being one of the instructors of an exercise program focused on gait and balance control (2005). The experience with the patients (their difficulties and capabilities) was so remarkable that it directed my choice for the Master’s program in the same university.

Investigating whether a dynamic visual cue could help patients to adapt their walking speed (faster or slower) was the focus of the Master’s thesis. 

Later, expanding my knowledge on the multiple connections that the basal ganglia have with the cerebral cortex and how the faulty functioning of these structures result on the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD patients, my PhD thesis was directed to investigate how physical exercise might influence this ‘faulty functioning’, especially the ones related to cognitive functions.  


Publications

Sanchez-Arias MDR, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi LTB, Stella F . Gait spatial and temporal predictors for functional capacity tests in Parkinson's disease patients. Rev. bras. fisioter. (2008), vol.12, n.5, pp. 359-365.

Conference Presentations

Silveira CRA, Almeida QJ, Boucher DB, Witzel S, Roy EA. (2012) On-line processing demands of narrow corridors on gait in Parkinson's freezers and non-freezers. 16th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Dublin, Ireland

Silveira CRA, Almeida QJ, Roy EA, Witzel S, Boucher DB. (2012) Perception of aperture size at the end of a corridor is impaired in Parkinson’s disease patients with freezing of gait (PD-FOG). Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait & Mental Function, Trondheim, Norway

Silveira CRA, Bell-Boucher D, Roy EA, Almeida QJ. (2012) Does side-affected in Parkinson’s disease (PD) contribute to visually guided locomotor tasks? Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Hallifax, Canada

Boehm R, Pieruccini-Faria F, Knobl P, Ehgoetz Martens K, Silveira CRA, Almeida QJ. ( 2012) Contributions of symptom laterality and hand dominance on proprioception in Parkinson’s disease.  Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Halifax, Canada

Sacheli MA, Silveira CRA, Pieruccini-Faria F, Almeida QJ. (2012) The Combination of Aerobic and Sensory Attention Focused Exercise: Enhanced Treatment for Motor and Gait Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease? Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Halifax, Canada

Knowlton F, Silveira CRA, Almeida Q, Roy E. (2012) The potential influence of cognitive decline on freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease - a case study on gait and gaze behaviour. Annual Meeting of SCAPPS, Winnipeg, Canada

Silveira CRA, Knowlton F, Almeida Q, Roy E. (2011) The influence of disease severity on verbal fluency performance in Parkinson’s disease. Annual Meeting of SCAPPS Winnipeg, Canada

Caetano MJD, Silveira CRA, Vitorio R, Gobbi, LTB. (2011) Effects of walking speed on heel contact velocity of Parkinson's disease patients. 15th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Toronto, Canada

Pieruccini-Faria F, Vitorio R, Gobbi LB, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Almeida Q, Stella F. (2011) Step width during obstacle crossing in patients with Parkinson's disease is a predictor of the UPDRS gait and posture clinical score: An 'on' and 'off' study. 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders, Toronto, Canada

Silveira CRA, Gobbi LTB, Pieruccini-Faria F, Caetano MJD, Sánchez-Arias MR, Stella F. (2009) Voluntary adaptation of walking in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease under speed visual cue. In 1st Paulista Meeting of Motor Behaviour, São Paulo, Brazil 
 
Silveira, CRA, Caetano MJD, Sánchez-Arias MR, Vitório R, Cezar FA, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. (2008) Ranges of motion in Parkinson’s disease gait. In IV Brazilian Congress of Motor Behavior - Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior 3: 41 – 42, São Paulo, Brazil 
 
Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Pieruccini-Faria F, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. (2007) Effects of a physical activity program on the daily life activities of elderly with Parkinson’s disease. In Progress in Motor Control VI - Motor Control 11: S191 - S192, Santos, Brazil 
 
Sánchez-Arias MR, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Cezar FA, Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi S, Gobbi LTB. (2007) Gait kinematic predictors for functional capacity tests in Parkinson’s disease patients. In Progress in Motor Control VI - Motor Control 11: S209 - S210, Santos, Brazil 
 
Caetano MJD, Moreira APM, Silveira CRA, Gobbi LTB. (2007) Heel contact changes during walking according to the restrict surface. In Progress in Motor Control VI - Motor Control 11: S175 - S176, Santos, Brazil 
 
Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Hamanaka AY, Tanaka K, Caetano MJD, Silveira CRA, Gobbi LTB. (2007) Physical activity programs and Parkinson’s disease. In International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) 2007 - Journal of the Brazilian Society of Adapted Motor Activity (SOBAMA) 12: 431 – 432, Rio Claro, Brazil 
 
Vitório R, Pieruccini-Faria F, Caetano MJD, Silveira CRA, Gobbi LTB, Gobbi S, Stella F. (2007) The relation between step width and functional balance in elderly with Parkinson’s disease: preliminary data. In XXX International Symposium of Sport Sciences - Revista Brasileira de Ciência e Movimento 4: S187 - S187, São Paulo, Brazil

Caetano MJD, Moreira APM, Silveira CRA, Gobbi LTB, Sánchez-Arias MR. (2007) The relation between walking features, functional balance and falls in elderly healthy and Parkinson's disease. In 6th Brazilian Congress of Physical Activity and Health - Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física e Saúde 12: 116 - 116, Florianópolis, Brazil 
 
Cezar FA, Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Pieruccini-Faria F, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Moreira APM, Vitório R, Simões CS, Gobbi LTB, Gobbi S, Stella F. (2007) Risk of falls and PLM test performance in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In V International Congress of Physical Education and Human Motricity and XI Paulista Symposium of Physical Education – Motriz 13: S181 - S182, Rio Claro, Brazil

Caetano MJD, Moreira APM, Silveira CRA, Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi LTB. (2006) The variability in spatial and temporal parameters of gait in elderly. In III Brazilian Congress of Motor Behavior, Rio Claro, Brazil
  
 
Silveira CRA, Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi LTB, Vitório R, Caetano MJD, Stella F, Gobbi S. (2006) Different restrictions alter the onset of visual control for locomotor adjustments in people with Parkinson’s disease. In XI Congress of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of Portuguese Language Countries - Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte 20: 299 - 299, São Paulo, Brazil

Vitório R, Pieruccini-Faria F, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Gobbi LTB, Stella F.  (2006) Walking with obstacles in the elderly with Parkinson's disease. In III Brazilian Congress of Motor Behavior, Rio Claro, Brazil 
 
Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Hamanaka AY, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi LTB. (2006) Functional mobility and risk of falls in elderly people with Parkinson’s disease. In III Brazilian Congress of Motor Behavior, Rio Claro, Brazil 
 
Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi LTB, Vitório R, Stella F, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD. (2006) Regulatory locomotor spatial parameters to crossing obstacles of different heights in elderly people with Parkinson’s disease. In III Brazilian Congress of Motor, Rio Claro, Brazil
 
Hamanaka AY, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB, Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Sánchez-Arias MR, Moreira APM, Simões CS. (2006) The relation between dynamic balance and risk of falls in elderly people with Parkinson’s disease. In XI Congress of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of Portuguese Language Countries - Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte 20: 234-234, São Paulo, Brazil

Gobbi LTB, Gobbi S, Stella F, Silveira CRA, Cezar FA, Vitório R.  (2006) Training effects on gait parameters during obstacle negotiation in Parkinson's disease patients: preliminary data. In Xth International EGREPA Conference, Physical activity and successful aging, Cologne, Germany
 
Vitório R, Pieruccini-Faria F, Moreira APM, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Simões CS, Gobbi LTB, Stella F.  (2005) Correlations between UPDRS-III and H & Y with the locomotor performance to crossing obstacles in the elderly with Parkinson's disease. In XXVIII International Symposium of Sport Sciences - Revista brasileira de ciência e movimento 13: 287 - 287, São Paulo, Brazil
 
Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Pieruccini-Faria F, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB. (2005) The gait of people with Parkinson’s disease ON and OFF L-dopa. In IV International Congress of Physical Education and Human Motricity and X Paulista Symposium of Physical Education – Motriz 11: S178 - S178, Rio Claro, Brazil 
 
Pieruccini-Faria F, Gobbi LTB, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Vitório R, Stella F. (2005) Temporal parameters of anticipatory locomotor adjustments to overcoming obstacles sensitive to L-dopa. In VI Brazilian Congress of Adapted Motor Activity - Revista Brasileira da Sociedade Brasileira de Atividade Motora Adaptada (SOBAMA) 10: 80 - 80, Rio Claro, Brazil

Faculty:  Department of Physical Education
University:  Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) at Rio Claro, Brazil
Hometown:  Americana / Sao Paulo-Brazil
Program:  Kinesiology
Research Supervisor: Dr. Lilian T. B. Gobbi; co-supervised by Dr. Quincy J. Almeida and Dr. Renato de Moraes

Awards Received

2012-2013     PhD scholarship for a 7-month international research experience at Wilfrid
                    Laurier University, Canada (Sao Paulo Research Foundation)
2012             Award for the best student poster at the VI Brazilian Conference of Motor
                    Behavior (Brazilian Society of Motor Behavior)
2012             Congratulation honor for regular and high quality publications
                    (UNESP-Rio Claro Post Graduate Council)
2010-2013     PhD scholarship from Sao Paulo Research Foundation
2007-2009     MSc scholarship from Sao Paulo Research Foundation
2006             Award for the best academic performance among Physical Education students
                    (Biosciences Institute, UNESP-Rio Claro)
2005-2007     Undergrad scholarship for scientific initiation from Sao Paulo Research
                    Foundation


Research Projects

• How do Parkinson’s disease and its progression affect the ability to avoid obstacles while walking, the incidence of falls, and the physical activity level of patients?
• How is visual information used for the control of locomotion in patients with Parkinson's disease?


Research Interests

• Parkinson’s disease
• Physical Exercise
• Adaptive gait (i.e. obstacle avoidance)
• Prediction of fall occurrence
• Visual information and motor control


What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

I hope to help manage gait disorders and fall occurrences in Parkinson’s disease


Why did you decide to study movement disorders, especially in the area of Parkinson's disease?

I worked as a volunteer in a rehabilitation program for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PROPARKI, UNESP Rio Claro, Brazil) during my undergraduate course of Physical Education. It was so inspiring that I decided to become a researcher on the topic of movement disorders in Parkinson’s disease. Then, I devoted my research to understanding brain function related to human motor behavior, especially gait, and to develop exercise-based rehabilitation programs to help people with Parkinson’s disease.

I decided to have an international research experience at the MDRC because it is a worldwide-recognized research centre, led by one of the best researchers in the area of Parkinson’s disease.


Publications

Barbieri FA, Santos PCR, Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB, Van Dieën JH. Systematic review of the effects of fatigue on spatiotemporal gait parameters. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, (2013) (in press).

Barbieri FA, Santos PCR, Vitório R, Van Dieën, JH Gobbi LTB. Effect of muscle fatigue and physical activity level in motor control of the gait of young adults. Gait Posture, (2013) (in press).

Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R. PROPARKI: Mobilidade. In: Coelho FGM, Gobbi S, Riani-Costa JL, Gobbi LTB. Exercício físico no envelhecimento saudável e patológico: Da teoria à prática. Editora CRV, (2013); pp.381-391.

Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Raile V, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. Influence of visual feedback sampling on obstacle crossing behavior in people with Parkinson’s disease. Gait Posture, (2013) (in press).

Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Pelicioni PHS. Controle motor e ocorrência de quedas na doença de Parkinson. In: Coelho FGM, Gobbi S, Riani-Costa JL, Gobbi LTB. Exercício físico no envelhecimento saudável e patológico: Da teoria à prática. Editora CRV, (2013); pp.314-326.

Barbieri FA, Rinaldi NM, Santos PCR, Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. Functional capacity of Brazilian patients with Parkinson’s disease: relationship with clinical characteristics and disease severity. Arch Gerontol Geriatr (2012); 54: e83-e88.

Gobbi LTB, Vitório R, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Lirani-Silva E, Rinaldi NM, Barbieri FA, Pereira MP,  Santos PCR, Batistela RA. Gait velocity, attention and exercise in Parkinson’s disease. In: Yoshida C, Ito A. Parkinson's disease: Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Nova Publisher, (2012); pp.179-190.

Pereira MP, Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Caetano MJD, Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. Long-term multimodal exercise program enhances mobility of patients with Parkinson’s disease. ISRN Rehabilitation, Research Article 491718, (2012).

Teixeira-Arroyo C, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Pereira MP, Lirani-Silva E, Gobbi LTB. Gait parameters in progressive supranuclear palsy: a case study. Fisioterapia em Movimento (2012); 25: 885-894.

Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Raile V, Batistela RA, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. The role of vision in Parkinson’s disease locomotion control: Free walking task. Gait Posture, (2012); 35: 175-179.

Gobbi LTB, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Pereira MP, Teixeira-Arroyo C. Effects of a multimodal exercise program on clinical, functional mobility and cognitive parameters of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients. Diagnostics and Rehabilitation of Parkinson’s Disease. Rijeka: InTech, (2011); pp.339-352.

Gobbi LTB. Pieruccini-Faria F, Vitório R, Stella F, Gobbi S, Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Tanaka K. Cumulative effect of Levodopa in obstacle crossing: Case study of a Parkinson disease patient. Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior, (2011); 6: 1-7.

Vitório R, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Caetano MJD, Gobbi S, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. Effects of 6-month, multimodal exercise program on clinical and gait parameters of patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study. ISRN Neurology, Article ID 714947, 7 pages doi:10.5402/2011/714947, (2011).

Gobbi LTB, Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Rinaldi NM, Pereira MP, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Barbieri FA, Santos PCR, Batistela RA, Salles AC, Raile V, Alves APT, Morais LC. Exercício e Doença de Parkinson: aspectos da formação em Educação Física. In: Bento JO, Tani G, Prista A (Org.). Desporto e Educação Física em Português. Porto: CIFI2D, (2010); pp.274-293.

Vitório R, Pieruccini-Faria F, Stella F, Gobbi S, Gobbi LTB. Effects of obstacle height on obstacle crossing in mild Parkinson’s disease. Gait Posture (2010); 31: 143-146.

Gobbi LTB, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Hamanaka A, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Oliveira-Ferreira MDT, Stella F, Gobbi S. Envelhecimento, Doença de Parkinson e Exercício. In: Farinatti PT (Org.). Envelhecimento, promoção da saúde e envelhecimento. Rio de Janeiro: Manole, (2009); v.2, pp.14-46.

Pieruccini-Faria F, Menuchi MRTP, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB, Stella F, Gobbi S. Kinematic parameters for gait with obstacles among elderly patients with Parkinson’s disease, with and without levodopa: A pilot study. Braz J Phys Ther (2006); 10: 211-216.


Conference Presentations

Batistela RA, Santos PCR, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Baptista AM, Orcioli-Silva D, Simieli L, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Relação entre nível de atividade física e variáveis clínicas, cognitivas, estresse e qualidade de vida em indivíduos com doença de Parkinson. IV Congresso Brasileiro de Metabolismo, Nutrição e Exercício, Londrina-Brazil.

Baptista AM, Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Quadro clínico e andar adaptativo em pacientes com doença de Parkinson caidores e não caidores. VI Congresso Brasileiro de Comportamento Motor, Sao Paulo-Brazil.

Gobbi LTB, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Baptista AM, Batistela RA, Santos PCR, Simieli L, Orcioli-Silva D, Pereira MP. (2012) Effects of 8 months of exercise in the adaptive gait of Parkinson disease patients. Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait & Mental Function, Trondheim-Norway.

Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Baptista AM, Barbieri FA, Orcioli-Silva D, Simieli L, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Incidence and prediction of falls in patients with Parkinson’s disease: An 8-month prospective study. Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait & Mental Function, Trondheim-Norway.

Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Baptista AM, Batistela RA, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Déficits de atenção podem predizer quedas em pacientes com doença de Parkinson. VI Congresso Brasileiro de Comportamento Motor, Sao Paulo-Brazil.

Pelicioni PHS, Pereira MP, Rinaldi, NM, Teixeira-Arroyo C, Santos PCR, Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB. (2012) O equilíbrio funcional de pacientes com doença de Parkinson é mantido após a participação de um programa de atividade física generalizada. IV Congresso Brasileiro de Metabolismo, Nutrição e Exercício, Londrina-Brazil.

Santos PCR, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Morais LC, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Mobilidade funcional na doença de Parkinson: Comparação entre diferentes níveis de atividade física. VI Congresso Brasileiro de Comportamento Motor, Sao Paulo-Brazil.

Teixeira-Arroyo C, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Pereira MP, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Kinematic gait parameters during stair ascent and descent in people with Parkinson’s disease. Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait & Mental Function, Trondheim-Norway.

Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Baptista AM, Barbieri FA, Santos PCR, Gobbi LTB. (2012) The effects of disease severity on obstacle crossing in people with Parkinson’s disease. Joint World Congress of ISPGR and Gait & Mental Function, Trondheim-Norway.

Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Baptista AM, Orcioli-Silva D, Gobbi LTB. (2012) Parâmetros do andar livre e adaptativo podem predizer a ocorrência de quedas em pacientes com doença de Parkinson: Um estudo longitudinal de oito meses. VI Congresso Brasileiro de Comportamento Motor, Sao Paulo-Brazil.

Batistela RA, Prado AKG, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Santos PCR, Morais LC, Gobbi LTB. (2011) Effects of multimodal exercise program on functional capacity in people with Parkinson’s disease. 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder, Toronto-Canada.

Caetano MJD, Silveira CRA, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB. (2011) Effects of walking speed on heel contact velocity of Parkinson’s disease patients. 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder, Toronto-Canada.

Lirani-Silva E, Vitório R, Barbieri FA, Raile V, Batistela RA, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. (2011) The role of vision in Parkinson’s disease locomotion control: Free walking task. 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder, Toronto-Canada.

Pelicioni PHS, Vitório R, Pereira MP, Lirani-Silva E, Santos PCR, Morais LC, Gobbi LTB. (2011) Relação entre medo de quedas e os comprometimentos clínicos e do equilíbrio funcional em indivíduos com doença de Parkinson: estudo piloto. II Encontro Paulista de Comportamento Motor, Bauru-Brazil.

Pieruccini-Faria F, Vitório R, Gobbi LTB, Silveira CRA, Caetano MJD, Almeida QJ, Stella F. (2011) Step width during obstacle crossing in patients with Parkinson’s disease is a predictor of the UPDRS gait and posture clinical score: An ‘on’ and ‘off’ study. 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder, Toronto-Canada.

Teixeira-Arroyo C, Barbieri FA, Vitório R, Rinaldi NM, Lirani-Silva E, Takaki CB, Gobbi LTB. (2011) Risco de tropeços durante as tarefas de subir e descer degraus em pacientes com doença de Parkinson. II Encontro Paulista de Comportamento Motor, Bauru-Brazil.

Vitório R, Lirani-Silva E, Barbieri FA, Raile V, Batistela RA, Stella F, Gobbi LTB. (2011) The role of vision in Parkinson’s disease locomotion control: obstacle crossing task. 15th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder, Toronto-Canada.