Heidi Sveistrup

Biography

Heidi Sveistrup, Full Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences, is at the University of Ottawa since 1993. She is interested in understanding how posture and balance control change in people of all ages and has completed studies of participants ranging from 3 months to 90 years old. Along with her students and collaborators, she addresses questions such as: a) how do children and adults maintain or regain their balance either when they expect to fall versus when they lose their balance unexpectedly; b) how effective are various balance retraining interventions such as Tai Chi and virtual reality with children and adults; c) how are assistive and mobility devices used; and d) what are effective resources for community falls reduction programs. Dr. Sveistrup holds peer-reviewed operating funds from NSERC, CIHR and other sources as well as a personnel development award from the MOHLTC, Ontario.