Heather Curtin

Title of Research Project: To explore the effects of mobility assistance dogs in children with neurological and physical impairments

Academic Supervisor: Professor Ciarán Simms, Dr Michelle Spirtos and Professor Richard Reilly

Biography

Heather Curtin a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering in Trinity College Dublin and works as a senior physiotherapist in The Gait Laboratory, CRC Dublin. Her area of expertise is in pathological gait biomechanics and 3D gait analysis. Heather is working on a research project in conjunction with Dr Michelle Spirtos in the School of Occupational Therapy analysing the effects of mobility assistance dogs in children with neurological and physical impairments. This mixed methods study uses a qualitative methodology incorporating thematic analysis of interviews, in combination with quantitative data from 3D gait analysis, wearable activity monitors and a quality of life measurement tool.