About Us

Rehabilitation Enhancement for Human Assessment using Biomechanics

(ReHAB)

The ReHAB project is based at the North-West University and has testing laboratories at both the Potchefstroom and Mahikeng Campuses. On this website you will find an overview of the core aspects of the ReHAB project and the researchers dedicated to it. There are numerous research arms meant to provide an avenue for a multitude of lower-extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and the approaches we use in the identification and treatment of these disorders.

Our Story

Musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) affect about 1.71 billion individuals globally, impacting muscles, bones, and joints. Modern global health perspectives recognise the importance of functional abilities alongside mortality rates, therefore rehabilitation is crucial for enhancing function and reducing disability, emphasising injury prevention, post-injury treatment, performance improvement, and functional reintegration.

The ReHAB project, which is looking to recruit approximately 80 participants across various rehabilitation phases, will investigate the use of low-cost technologies for evaluating MSD, capturing both client and practitioner experiences. Employing quantitative (specialised and low-cost objective assessment MSD equipment) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) methods, the project will seek to ensure ethical conduct and adhere rigorously to the tenets of validity, reliability, and trustworthiness in data collection and analysis. Our research will contribute to improving the detection of movement deficiencies, establishing cost-effective evaluation methods, and enhance decision-making processes in rehabilitation. It will also seek to offer insights into the self-confidence of skilled practitioners in decision-making and client adherence, providing a better understanding of the rehabilitation process and guiding the adaptation of rehabilitation practices.