Centre of Expertise Health Innovation

Research Group Assistive Technology for Mobility and Sports

Sports is not always a natural activity for people with a physical limitation or a chronic disorder. Physical limitations or pain during exercise can take away the joy of exercise. The available activities are also not always suited to their interests and abilities. The Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport research group is committed to giving people with a limitation as many opportunities to exercise and practice sports as people without limitations.

About the research group

Target groups

The research group focuses on people who due to symptoms or chronic disorders (for example arthritis and obesity), mobility limitations or restrictions of the musculoskeletal system are less mobile and unable to exercise and play sports as much as they should or would like.

The research focuses on the following themes with the corresponding research questions:

Encouraging exercise

What are effective (technical) tools to encourage exercise and sport among people with physical disabilities?

Recording and analysing exercise

How can we better understand the exercise behaviour and performance of people with physical disabilities to promote and optimise exercise?

Support and optimisation

Which technological innovations and improvements of existing mobility aids can help increase exercise and sport participation among people with physical disabilities?

Team

About the professor

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dr. Monique Berger

Monique Berger graduated from VU Amsterdam with a degree in Human Kinetic Sciences. From 1993, Monique has held various positions within the Human Kinetic Technology degree programme and worked as a senior researcher at the Rehabilitation Research Group. From this degree programme, she shaped the research in the Human Kinetic Technology Centre of Expertise. Many of these projects are aimed at adapted sports and wheelchair sports in particular. These projects include partnerships with TU Delft, the faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences of VU Amsterdam, UMCG Groningen, NOC*NSF, the Dutch Basketball Federation, the Sports and Exercise Centre of Expertise, the City of The Hague and various rehabilitation centres, in particular Basalt Revalidatie, which insures excellent cooperation with other parties.

m.a.m.berger@hhs.nl

We use smart tools and new technologies to make sports and exercise possible for everyone.

Projects

Sport and Exercise Professor Platform

The Sport and Exercise professor platform connects professors so they can exchange knowledge and collaborate. This leads to the efficient and effective development and use of knowledge. The collaboration also increases the quality and applicability of the sport research. Professors from all sport universities of applied sciences in the Netherlands form the core of the platform. Together, they want to increase the social impact of sport management research.

Innovations in sport and exercise in the SportLab

The SportLab is a practical environment (‘field lab’) at the Zuiderpark Sports Campus. At the SportLab, researchers are working on innovations and research to help people exercise more and better and to improve sports performances.

Research programme: 'Basalt in motion’

Exercise is important for rehabilitation patients, and it is almost always part of the treatment. Often patients experience a barrier to active exercise because of their disability or illness. To support them, Basalt rehabilitation centre looks for solutions to get patients exercising again. This can be done with e-health applications and healthcare technology, for example. To find out what works, the Rehabilitation and Technology and the Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport research groups participate in the 'Basalt in motion' research programme.

Exercise-friendly Zuiderpark

With a skate park, playground, fitness area and sports fields, The Hague’s urban Zuiderpark seems like a very exercise-friendly park. But despite all of these exercise facilities, vulnerable target groups are not using the park to exercise. The Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport research group is researching how to set up Zuiderpark as an inclusive and motivating exercise environment.

Encouraging people with a physical limitation to exercise

Exercise is very important for people with a physical limitation, both for their physical and mental health. Sports and exercise are also a way for them to actively participate in society. But it can be a bit more complicated than simply stepping into a gym or diving into a pool. The Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport research group is conducting research to facilitate exercise and sports for people with a physical limitation.

Innovating in rehabilitation and mobility (Field Lab Rehabilitation & Mobility)

Nowadays, innovative technology can support rehabilitation and encourage more exercise. By using the technological possibilities, patients also gain more control over their lives. More and more innovative products are being developed, but which ones work well? And how can they be used in practice as soon as possible? The Rehabilitation and Technology and Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport Research Groups conduct research in the Field Lab Rehabilitation & Mobility which contributes to more and better human kinetic technology in healthcare.

Motor skills for Developmental Coordination Disorder

Every class has some children who have difficulties with their motor skills and find it hard to learn how to exercise. Sometimes this is caused by Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Physical education teachers seem to have a little specific knowledge about children with this disorder, although they would be the right person to help these children. The Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport research group is doing research on motor skills learning with DCD.

Better performances in wheelchair sports with WheelPower

With 4 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals, the Dutch wheelchair athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the Rio 2016 Paralympic games (wheelchair basketball, tennis, athletics, triathlon and rugby). To maintain and strengthen this position we require more knowledge on how athletes can optimise their strength to improve their competition results. The Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport Research group is part of the WheelPower consortium and is conducting various studies.

Customised advice for hand bikers

The hand bike is one of the best tools to allow wheelchair users to efficiently practice exercise and sports. An important topic during the hand bike training is to prevent strains, because wheelchair users also need their upper body for their daily activities. The Technology for Inclusive Movement and Sport Research group is doing research to assist hand bikers with this.

About the research group

Projects

News

10 May 2021
Research group helps Team NL prepare for the Paralympic Games

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Studies found

Other results

Research Group Assistive Technology for Mobility and Sports

Target groups

Encouraging exercise

Recording and analysing exercise

Support and optimisation

Team

Hanneke Braakhuis

Melle van Dilgt

Ingrid Kouwijzer

Helmien Rambaldo

Rinus van der Schoof

dr. Rienk van der Slikke

Jora Wolfgram