Despite being largely characterised as a social and cognitive disorder, strong evidence indicates the presence of significant sensory-motor problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This paper outlines our progression from initial, broad assessment using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC2) to subsequent targeted kinematic assessment. In particular, pronounced ASD impairment seen in the broad categories of manual dexterity and ball skills was found to be routed in specific difficulties on isolated tasks, which were translated into focused experimental assessment. Kinematic results from both subsequent studies highlight impaired use of perception-action coupling to guide, adapt and tailor movement to task demands, resulting in inflexible and rigid motor profiles. In particular difficulties with the use of temporal adaption are shown, with “hyperdexterity” witnessed in ballistic movement profiles, often at the cost of spatial accuracy and task performance. By linearly progressing from the use of a standardised assessment tool to targeted kinematic assessment, clear and defined links are drawn between measureable difficulties and underlying sensory-motor assessment. Results are specifically viewed in-light of perception-action coupling and its role in early infant development suggesting that rather than being “secondary” level impairment, sensory-motor problems may be fundamental in the progression of ASD. This logical and systematic process thus allows a further understanding into the potential route of observable motor problems in ASD; a vital step if underlying motor problems are to be considered a fundamental aspect of autism and allow a route of non-invasive preliminary diagnosis.

Existing clinical assessments of Parkinson’s disease (PD) primarily focus on stratifying symptom severity or progression rate, which limits their ability to capture changes in functional mobility—an important factor in evaluating rehabilitation outcomes. To address this gap, we developed a novel methodology, the Functional Mobility Assessment for Parkinson’s (FMA-P), which integrates motion capture and pressure-sensitive gait analysis to explore key aspects of functional mobility. Study 1. To develop the FMA-P, we conducted a pilot study involving 12 individuals with PD and 12 age-matched healthy controls, who each completed the FMA-P sequence three times. The sequence included the following tasks: rising from a chair, walking through a doorway, turning, bending to pick up and place an object, and returning to a seated position. Results from Study 1 demonstrated that the FMA-P is a sensitive tool for identifying functional impairments in PD. In particular, significant differences between people with Parkinson’s (PwP) and controls were observed during chair rise (higher peak trunk inclination, p = 0.006; lower mean trunk jerk, p = 0.003) and turning task (longer task duration, p = 0.026 and lower mean heel strike angle, p = 0.007), providing critical insights into postural stability. Study 2. To assess changes in functional mobility over time, we conducted a 12-week repeated-measures intervention study with 12 participants with PD. Results from Study 2 indicated notable improvements in turning stability and balance. Participants demonstrated reduced turning time (p = 0.006) and increased yaw rotation in the head (p = 0.001), trunk (p = 0.002), and pelvis (p = 0.012). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in standard clinical measures (i.e., Timed Up and Go and task duration). The FMA-P offers fine-grained insights into movement quality, making it a valuable tool for early diagnosis, monitoring intervention efficacy, and guiding rehabilitation strategies in individuals with PD.

Participatory research promotes inclusive practice and enables stakeholder expertise to be recognized as a valuable contribution throughout the research cycle. However, there is little guidance regarding how to disseminate these qualitative processes, and the methodological insights gained. Based on preliminary research, we had developed a session framework for a new intervention using music to improve motor and non-motor symptoms for people with Parkinson’s. Our next step was to work in a trans- and interdisciplinary way to further explore concepts (e.g., imagery) and to co-develop content (e.g., musical exercises). Through a synthesis of materials including video footage, worksheets, field notes, transcriptions of interviews and feedback forms derived though workshops and interviews with people with Parkinson’s, a range of practitioners and healthcare professionals, and researchers in the UK (in English) and in Switzerland (in German and Italian), we developed a draft protocol for a 12-week course. This was then optimized through a final round of feedback with the stakeholders. We gained direct methodological insights throughout these processes, including some that led to changes in protocol (addition of two new sections), and the revision (rhythmic exercises) and removal (e.g., singing and syncopation) of some planned content. We also changed our use of language. Indirect insights included the need for cultural and contextual sensitivity, and a new understanding of the bidirectional nature of impact. A new group-based music and movement course, Songlines for Parkinson’s, has been co-developed for and with people with Parkinson’s. The methodological insights gained have not only shaped the protocol but also provided lessons that could be useful for planning and guidance in future participatory projects involving the Parkinson’s community and extended to other groups.

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition associated with a loss of dopamine producing cells causing motor (e.g., tremor, disturbed gait) and non-motor symptoms (e.g., apathy, depression) that negatively affect quality of life (Bloem et al., 2021). Due to the range of symptoms, it is necessary to bring together multi-disciplinary teams to develop interventions that are not only effective but also practical to deliver. Moreover, incorporating a range of research disciplines from the outset is essential to ensure both clinical relevance and methodological rigor in the study design. Additionally, participatory research promotes inclusive practice and enables stakeholder expertise to be recognized as a valuable contribution throughout the research cycle. Methods: Based on preliminary research, we had developed a session framework for a new intervention using music to improve motor and non-motor symptoms for people with Parkinson’s. Our next step was to work in a multidisciplinary way to further explore concepts (e.g., imagery) and to co-develop content (e.g., musical exercises). Through a synthesis of materials including video footage, worksheets, field notes, transcriptions of interviews and feedback forms derived though workshops and interviews with people with Parkinson’s, a range of practitioners and healthcare professionals, and researchers in the UK (in English) and in Switzerland (in German and Italian), we developed a draft protocol for a 12-week course. This was then optimized based on a final round of feedback from stakeholders. Results: We gained direct methodological insights throughout the co-development and stakeholder feedback processes. Some of these insights led to changes in the protocol, including the addition of two new sections, the revision of rhythmic exercises, and the removal of certain planned content (e.g., singing and syncopation). We also modified our use of language and procedures for kinematic measurement, adjusted standardized questionnaires, and refined our approach to qualitative data collection. Indirect findings underscored the importance of cultural and contextual sensitivity and revealed the bidirectional nature of intervention impact. Discussion/Conclusion: A new group-based music and movement course, Songlines for Parkinson’s, was co-developed with people with Parkinson’s. The methodological insights gained have shaped the protocol and highlighted strategies for multidisciplinary intervention development that could inform future projects involving the Parkinson’s community and potentially be extended to other groups (Rose et al., 2025). References Bloem, B. R., Okun, M. S., & Klein, C. (2021). Parkinson's disease. The Lancet, 397(10291), 2284–2303.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00218-X Rose, C.D., Ungerer, M., Köchli, S., Paolantonio, P., Dinacci, D., Foletti, A., Molteni, D., Greenwood, A., Thomas, M., Truran, L., Annett, L. E., Karageorghis, C. I., Whyatt, C., Poliakoff, E., & Short, A. (2025). Songlines for Parkinson’s: The process of co-developing a new music-and-movement group-based intervention to improve mood and movement for Parkinson’s. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, Article 16094069251335453. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251335453

Introduction: Research in Parkinson’s rehabilitation suggests that combining music and movement can improve both motor and non-motor symptoms for people with Parkinson's (PwP). Using an inclusive, participatory medicine approach, we co-developed a 12-week group intervention (Songlines for Parkinson’s) offering a toolbox of music-based strategies to support symptom management and everyday functioning (Rose et al., 2025). Methods: We used a repeated-measures, concurrent mixed-methods design across trials in the UK and Switzerland (N = 42). Data included kinematic measures, standardized questionnaires, and qualitative interviews. To overcome the limitations of conventional clinical assessments, which often do not capture functional mobility, we developed a new methodology—the Functional Mobility Assessment for Parkinson’s (FMA-P)—integrating motion capture and pressure-sensitive gait analysis (Köchli et al., 2025). Additional tests and questionnaires assessed Parkinson’s disease symptoms, perceived quality of life, imagery ability, musical engagement, and reward. Interviews explored participants’ motivation, use of music, engagement with intervention tasks, and continued use of music-based strategies post-intervention. Results: Functional mobility increased across several parameters (p < .05), motor impairment decreased (p = .006), and participants learned to apply motor and musical imagery in their daily lives (p < .001 for both). While qualitative data indicated perceived improvements in quality of life, these were not confirmed by standardized measures (p > .05). Music served as a vehicle for change, with participants identifying the most effective aspects of the intervention as: (a) the ease of integrating music-based rehabilitation into their daily lives, (b) the ability to choose their own music, which fostered a sense of agency, (c) the group setting, which promoted a sense of community, and (d) learning to use imagery, providing easily accessible internalized cues that improved both motor and non-motor symptoms. Discussion/Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that Songlines for Parkinson’s enhances functional mobility and symptom management while fostering agency, connection, and self-efficacy for personalizing rehabilitation strategies among participants. The FMA-P offers a promising new framework for evaluating functional mobility in PwP that corroborates qualitative findings and may help bridge the gap between clinical metrics and lived experience. References Rose, C.D., Ungerer, M., Köchli, S., Paolantonio, P., Dinacci, D., Foletti, A., Molteni, D., Greenwood, A., Thomas, M., Truran, L., Annett, L. E., Karageorghis, C. I., Whyatt, C., Poliakoff, E., & Short, A. (2025). Songlines for Parkinson’s: The process of co-developing a new music-and-movement group-based intervention to improve mood and movement for Parkinson’s. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, Article 16094069251335453. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251335453 Köchli, S., Casso, I., Delevoye-Turrell, Y. N., Schmid, S., Rose, D. C., & Whyatt, C. (2025). A newmethodological approach integrating motion capture and pressure-sensitive gait data to assess functionalmobility in Parkinson’s disease: A two-phase study. Sensors, 25(19), Article 5999. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25195999