Exercise Therapy For Prevention Of Falls In People With Parkinsons Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,820.00
Summary
Despite optimal medication regimes, people with Parkinson's disease frequently and recurrently experience falls. Up to 68% of the 100,000 people living in Australia with Parkinson's disease fall every year and fall-related injuries are the most common reason why people with Parkinson's disease are admitted to hospital. This project will implement an exercise program targeting risk factors for falls and will determine the efficacy and the cost effectiveness of the program.
Widespread Implementation Of Interventions To Prevent Falls In Older People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,565,291.00
Summary
A major new fall prevention intervention will be implemented and funded by the NSW Department of Health who is the partner organisation for this application. The researchers have worked closely with NSW Health for many years and together we now propose a research program to evaluate the NSW Health initiative and guide future interventions.
Reducing Risk Factors For Falls And Fracture In Obese Older Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Australia’s obese older population is growing, and a large number of fractures now occur in obese older adults. This research program aims to reduce falls and fracture risk in obese older adults through innovative exercise programs which target improvements in bone and muscle health, and a wearable device that enables measurement of this type of exercise. The findings will contribute to exercise guidelines which are urgently needed to reduce the costly impact of falls and fracture in Australia.
Improving Vision To Prevent Falls: A Randomized Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$403,892.00
Summary
More than 30% of older Australians fall over at least once a year. Poor eyesight, another very common problem among older Australians, increases the risk of falling. In fact, recent evidence from the Blue Mountains Eye Study suggests that poor vision is one of the strongest risk factors for falls and fractures yet identied. Our project is designed to assess whether improving vision will decrease the chance of falls and fractures. We will recruit 1200 people aged 75 years and over from among thos ....More than 30% of older Australians fall over at least once a year. Poor eyesight, another very common problem among older Australians, increases the risk of falling. In fact, recent evidence from the Blue Mountains Eye Study suggests that poor vision is one of the strongest risk factors for falls and fractures yet identied. Our project is designed to assess whether improving vision will decrease the chance of falls and fractures. We will recruit 1200 people aged 75 years and over from among those attending community-based aged care services in the inner western suburbs of Sydney. If they consent to participate, people will be randomly allocated to either an intervention or control group. Those in the intervention group will receive a simple, yet comprehensive, series of vision and eye tests. These tests will be done by an optometrist, either in subjects' homes or at the study centre. Our previous research suggests that nearly 50% of subjects will benefit from having new glasses and 10% might require cataract surgery. If necessary, treatment will be paid for from study funds. Some vision problems cannot be fixed. In these cases, an occupational therapist will arrange appropriate home modifications to improve vision-related function. Subjects will be followed-up for 12 months to assess the frequency of falls in the intervention and control groups. We hope to find a 33% reduction in falls in the intervention group. We will follow subjects for a further year to identify fractures.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Novel Intervention For Training Stepping Ability To Reduce The Risk Of Falls In Older Adults.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,393.00
Summary
Stepping is often the last protective option to prevent a fall. This study will first modify and validate an interactive system for training stepping ability in older adults. The system will be also provide the capability of acquiring indeices of stepping ability in the home. We will investigate the effect of an in-home training program using this system on stepping ability and falls risk. Findings will inform future interventions for preventing falls.
Development And Evaluation Of Health And Residential Care Service Delivery Models For Older Adults And People With Chronic Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,492.00
Summary
This fellowship will focus on developing and evaluating new models of health and residential care service provision to meet the impending demands of our ageing population. This research will encompass multi-state health services research in residential aged care, comparison of models of service provision in the hospital setting, and exploration of the intersection of physical and mental health amongst older adults.
Impaired Stepping As A Risk Factor For Falls In Older People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,727.00
Summary
Stepping is often the last protective option to prevent a fall. This study will investigate stepping responses as a risk factor for falls. Complementary studies of physiological and psychological contributions to stepping will also be conducted. A path model will be used to examine the relative importance of physiological, psychological and behvioural factors. An exercise program to imrpove stepping responses will be trialed. Findings will inform future interventions for preventing falls.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Cognitive-only And Cognitive-motor Training To Prevent Falls In Older People: Understanding Physical, Neuropsychological And Neural Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,624,934.00
Summary
The rate of falls in older people remains a significant problem. We have developed and validated a home-based computerised training intervention that can be delivered either while seated (cognitive) or while standing and undertaking balance exercises (cognitive+motor). This unique design will allow us to assess whether cognitive and cognitive+motor training can prevent falls, as well as the neural, physiological, physical and neuropsychological mechanisms behind the intervention effects.
Evaluating “Standing Tall” – An Engaging Home-based Exercise Program Using Mobile Technology For Maximizing Long-term Adherence And Preventing Falls In Older People: Randomized Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,081.00
Summary
Current evidence suggests that older people have to exercise for two hours per week for six months to prevent falls, with a strong focus on balance exercises. We have developed and tested an engaging home-based balance training program delivered through mobile (tablet) technology, called ‘Standing Tall’. We propose a randomised controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of our program for preventing falls in 500 community-dwelling older people, in addition to adherence- and cost-analyses.
Reducing Falls By Improving Knowledge Translation: A Mixed-methods Study To Incorporate Falls Prevention Best-practice Evidence Into Osteoarthritis Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,502.00
Summary
Over 50% of people with osteoarthritis (OA) will fall. Resources exist to assist clinicians in the management of OA, but give little or no attention to falls.The association between OA and falls supports the need to incorporate falls prevention strategies into routine OA care. This project aims to reduce falls and fall-related harm in people with OA by creating a list of recommendations for preventing falls that can be incorporated into current OA resources and routine OA care.