Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis is a Distinguished University Scholar and a Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) and in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at The University of British Columbia. She holds the Reichwald Family Chair in Preventive Medicine and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology, and as is an International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology.
The focus of Dr. Martin Ginis’s research is placed on understanding and changing physical activity behaviour, particularly among people living with spinal cord injury. She is deeply committed to knowledge translation; specifically, the development and implementation of evidence-based best-practices to improve health and well-being among people with disabilities. By example, Dr. Martin Ginis spearheaded the formulation and knowledge translation of scientific exercise guidelines for adults with spinal cord injury. These guidelines have been translated into nearly 20 languages and are used worldwide in clinical and community settings.
Part 1
One of her objectives is to present recent data showing the physical and mental health benefits of exercise for adults with spinal cord injury. She wants to introduce exercise guidelines for adults with SCI. Starting with the benefits of exercise from a mental and physical health perspective, probably the best two areas, best two outcomes for which there is evidence are improving insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular disease risk in this population. The fitness guideline stipulates that to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, adults with SCI should do at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity, aerobic activity twice per week, and strength training exercises twice per week. The guideline for cardiometabolic health stipulates that a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity is required three times per week. She discussed how exercise improves well-being. She also talked about exercise in chronic pain. She described the Epic SCI trial, a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial, testing the effects of exercising according to the scientific SCI exercise guidelines on SCI chronic pain.
With over 20 years of extensive clinical experience, Dr. Kedzierska is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She serves as a faculty member of an Accredited Physical Therapy Neurology Residency Program. She mentors department staff on assessment/treatment for related diagnosis. She has presented in local and national conferences and is a published author in the ANPT newsletter and Brain Injury Journal. She received her Master’s Degree in Physical Rehabilitation in Poland, Advanced Master’s Degree from NYU and a doctorate degree from Northeastern University serving a variety of populations.
Dr. Fay is a board certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and is a member of the faculty of the Neurological Residency program at Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Medical Center. She is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and has served on the APTA’s Vestibular EDGE Task Force; a select group of therapists chosen to review measures designed for assessment and treatment of patients with vestibular deficits. She has lectured at both local and national conferences on Vestibular Rehabilitation and is a published author in the Journal of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Her areas of special interest include vestibular rehabilitation in individuals with symptoms of dizziness.
Part 1: The interview included the following topics: common vestibular disorders; challenges treating patients with vestibular disorders; other specialists involved in providing treatment; overlapping symptoms; advances in diagnosis; distinguishing between peripheral and central vestibular disorders; patient compliance; and involvement of family members in treatment.