Stand Among Friends, a nonprofit organization, established the
Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities (The Center) in the Christine
E. Lynn College of Nursing on Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Boca Raton campus in 2006. SAF and FAU have a joint venture agreement to develop programs for The Center, and a joint operations agreement for the management of The Center. To date, SAF has directly funded all overhead costs and several research projects for The Center. The Center contributes to the mission of FAU by supporting multidisciplinary research, sponsoring educational seminars, and serving as a resource to persons with neurological disabilities.
The Center conducts clinical research on neurological disabilities and provides educational services to persons with neurological disabilities and their caregivers. The Center received official center designation within the State of Florida State University System, November of 2006.
Some of our programs:
The Center has completed a 12-week study of the benefits of yoga for people with multiple sclerosis. The study, which involved twelve participants with significant mobility issues, evaluated the effect of one hour yoga classes two days per week. Participants of the study showed signs of improvement in areas of fatigue, breathing, mobility and sleep. The results of this study will be submitted for publication in an academic paper.
The Center has just launched an exercise study for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study utilizes a device called an exer-station. Exer-stations are interactive strength training machine that combines video game playing with an isometric workout. Isometric exercise exerts force against an immoveable object. This provides aerobic exercise which impacts physical fitness for strength and fitness for persons with spinal cord injury.
The Center is also in the process of a pilot study to measures the benefits of exercise in persons with Parkinson’s disease. The study is a collaborative effort between Stand Among Friends Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities, Florida Atlantic University’s Memory and Wellness Center and the Parkinson’s Foundation of Florida. The pilot study, which is still in progress, evaluates the effects of a combination of exercises conducted by a physical therapist and a speech therapist on function and quality of life in persons with Parkinson’s disease. The exercise sessions are held three times a week and last one hour. Currently, 15 persons are participating. The results of this pilot study will be used to refine the exercise program to test with a larger sample. The benefit of a group exercise program over individual exercise sessions is that more persons can participate. Another potential benefit is the ability to meet persons with similar experiences and share successful strategies to manage the symptoms of this progressive neurological disease.
Additional practical research programs planned for FY 2008 include:
Falls prevention:
Falls are a major public health issue representing the fifth leading cause of mortality in the United States (NCIPC, 2006) and the leading cause of unintentional injuries in older adults, with one third of older adults falling each year (Gillespie, Gillespie, Robertson, Lamb, Cumming, & Rowe, 2006; Hausdorf, Rios, & Edelberg 2001; Hornbrooke, M.C., Stevens, V.J., Wingfield, D.J., Hollis, J.F., Greenlick, M.R., & Ory, MG. (1994). Fall injuries result in significant morbidity and healthcare cost and are a growing concern as the population ages.
The Center’s Fall &apos Prevention Program will employ the “Stepping-On” fall prevention intervention program for older adults diagnosed with a neurological disorder into a package that can be distributed to and implemented in community-based settings. Persons suffering from disorders such as Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis often have balance issue as a result of medication or the progressive nature of the disorder.
Pilates for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis:
Pilates focuses on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and strengthen the deep torso muscles, which are important to help alleviate the effects of a neurological disorder.
The Center’s Pilates Program will work with persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis who have balance and fatigue issues in 14 week study.
Disaster Preparedness and Care Worker Surveys:
Stand Among Friends plans to help bridge the gap with a health and human services program pilot study to determine the reasons why such a high percentage of disabled people remain unprepared for emergencies or disasters even though there are significant resources available for them.
This project will work collaboratively with the Cities of Boca Raton and Belle Glade, hospitals and other community-based organizations to conduct surveys and measure quantitative and qualitative data that can shed some light on why so many disabled people still remain unprepared for emergency situations. The results of this study will be shared with the Palm Beach County community and go a step further in actually providing individuals with disabilities additional disaster preparedness tools from information to kits.
Television Shows:
In addition to all of the planned research studies, SAF will continue to air its location television series, “Life Without Limits.” The
series focuses on sports, recreation, travel, health care and advocacy and airs
on Boca Raton Education Television (BRET).
