Rehabilitation requires a lot of practice and it can be hard to stay motivated. Computer games that register movements and provide feedback on them can enhance motivation. They do this, for instance, by adapting the challenges to the players performance. We know that it is on average optimal to provide positive feedback 8 out of 10 times. However, if we fixate the challenge to this optimum, the player doesnt experience performance improvement. It is unclear however what variation in challenge one should allow to motivate optimally. In this project, we investigate how variation in challenge influences motivation.

How do humans walk without falling? Stable gait requires control of the body’s center of mass in relation to its base of support. The goal is of course to limit, or recover, from small perturbations that occur during every step. Passive walkers may have some stability, but in real-life conditions active muscle control is paramount. Different muscles con-trolled by different parts of the central nervous system work to adapt the position of the base of support or to de-/accelerate the body center of mass. Building on my research on kinematic measures and neural correlates of gait stability, I here hypothesize that sever-al distinct phases of the gait cycle require active control. To test this I propose to 1. validate and progress phase-dependent mathematical measures of gait stability, and use these to establish phase-dependency of gait control. 2. identify movement strategies and their neural implementation used for gait stability via kinematic, electromyographic, and electro-encephalographic recordings; 3. detail cortical contributions in control of gait stability using transcranial magnetic stimulation. With this project I will be the first to study strategies, muscles, and cortical areas involved in control of gait stability in an integrated manner. I consider this integrated approach mandatory for unravelling the mechanisms underpinning control of stability in human walking.

This symposium, "Open Science and Knowledge Sharing in the General Practitioner Practice: When to refer and not to refer to the orthopedic surgeon?", brings together general practitioners and healthcare professionals across the Netherlands to improve musculoskeletal care through the lens of Open Science. The program will focus on practical training for managing common orthopedic conditions in general practice, such as shoulder, hip, knee, and foot/ankle issues. The open-access nature of the educational materials will allow broader dissemination of best practices, fostering a more collaborative healthcare environment and improving patient care across the country.

Na een ongeval of een herseninfarct is het van groot belang om zo snel en frequent mogelijk te oefenen om de hand/ pols functie te herstellen. Zelfs in gespecialiseerde revalidatiecentra is dit vaak nog suboptimaal. Het doel van dit project is om een betaalbaar en versatiel oefensysteem te valideren waarmee patiënten op een aantrekkelijke manier intensief kunnen oefenen. Dit systeem kan ook thuis gebruikt worden en van een afstand begeleid (tele-rehab).