Acting Director and Professor  

Cathy.Arnold@usask.ca

Teaching Areas:

• P.Th 822.5 Foundations 1
• P. Th 851.1 Case Integration 1

Research Interests/ Interdisciplinary Collaborations:

• Member of the Bone Imaging Research Group (BIG)
• The effect of stability training on fall risk in older adults
• Fall Risk in Older Adults with Hip Osteoarthritis: Decreasing Risk Through Education and Aquatic Exercise (PhD Thesis)
• Effect of fluoridated drinking water on the bone mineral density of young women (Master's thesis). 
• Comparing aquatic vs. land exercise to decrease fall risk in women with osteoporosis.
• Exercise prescription for older adults.
• Postural evaluation.
• Assessment tools to identify fall risk.
• Member of the Saskatchewan Injury and Falls Prevention Strategy and the Saskatoon Falls Prevention Consortium
• Member of the Bone Journal Club, College of Kinesiology
• Investigating motion sensor tools for detection and feedback of fall risk.
• Member of the Fall Detection (Fanfare) Research Group 

Current and Prospective Graduate Students:

• Dr. Arnold has two MSc students applying for their first year of study in the Masters of Health Sciences program, 2011.  Prospective students interested in pursuing a research graduate degree should contact Dr. Arnold directly.

Funded Projects in Progress:

• Determination of Changes in Gait Parameters and Postural Control while Older Adults at Risk of Falls are dual tasking: A comparison between Video observations and Kinematic Data (992 Student Project)
• CAST-Cross-training Arm Strength Training Trial: Does cross-training improve function and reduce risk of future falls and fracture in the first year following a distal radial fracture? (Co-investigator, RUH Foundation Grant)
• The Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises added to a Fall Prevention Exercise Program on the Kinematics of Functional Activities and Balance Performance in Older Adults at Risk of Falls (Principal Investrigator, Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada)
• The relationship of bone architecture and strength at the forearm to other indices of fall and fracture risk in women with and without distal radial fractures. (Principal Investigator for Study 2, SHRF Phase 2 Team Grant)
• Investigating the effect of haptic input on balance control during walking (Co-investigator, SHRF Establishment Grant, start date tbd)

Recent Publications:

• Arnold, C.M. Faulkner R. & Gyurcsik N. The relationship of falls-efficacy to improvement in fall risk factors following an exercise plus educational intervention for older adults with hip osteoarthritis. Physiotherapy Canada. [in press]
• Erlandson, MC., Kontulainen, SA., Chilibeck, PD., Arnold, CM., Baxter-Jones ADG.  Bone Mineral Accrual in 4-to 10-Year-Old Precompetitive, Recreational Gymnasts:  A 4-Year Longitudinal Study. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Vol. 26, No. 6, June 2011, pp 1313-1320
• Arnold CM & Faulkner RA. The effect of aquatic exercise and education on decreasing fall risk in older adults with hip osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity 2010;18:245-260
• Arnold, CM, Warkentin, KD, Chilibeck, PD & Magnus, CRA. The Reliability and Validity of Hand-Held Dynamometry for the Measurement of Lower Extremity Muscle Strength in Older Adults. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2010;24(3):815-24
• 2010 C.M. Arnold, K.D. Warkentin, P.D. Chilibeck & C.R.A Magnus
  The Reliability and Validity of Hand-Held Dynamometry for the Measurement of Lower Extremity Muscle Strength in Older Adults. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 23: Aug 5. [Epub ahead of print]
• 2009  Arnold CM & Faukner RA Does Falls-Efficacy Predict Balance Performance in Older Adults with Hip Osteoarthritis? Journal of Gerontological Nursing 35(1): 45-52.  Responsibility: Primary investigator, research design, analysis, writing  

Administrative and Professional Activities / Interests: 

• Chair, Executive Curriculum Committee School of PT

Recent Professional Association & Community Involvements:

• Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and member in the Divisions of: Orthopedics, Gerontology and Women’s Health
• Consultant, Staying on Your Feet Fall Prevention Program