METHODS - A Randomised Controlled Trial Of METhotrexate To Treat Hand Osteoarthritis With Synovitis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$770,014.00
Summary
Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is common, but has no treatment. Almost 50% of people with hand OA will have joint swelling (synovitis). The hand joint of people with synovitis are 3.5 times more likely to experience joint destruction within as little as 2 years. Drugs used to treat synovitis may reduce pain and joint destruction. We propose that treating patients with symptomatic hand OA and synovitis with the anti-synovitis drug, methotrexate, will be a major medical advance.
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.
A Scalable Intervention For Increasing Vigorous Physical Activity Among Older Adolescents: The ‘ Burn To Learn ’ Cluster RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,912.00
Summary
Physical inactivity has been described as a global pandemic and only 15% of Australian adolescents are sufficiently active. The pressure to perform in major school assessments drives many older adolescents to sacrifice physical activity to maximise academic performance. Our team has designed a time-efficient solution to increase physical activity in senior high school students using high intensity interval training which will be evaluated using a cluster randomised controlled trial.
The Effectiveness Of Social Dancing As A Strategy To Prevent Falls In Older People: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,024.00
Summary
Exercise is an effective intervention to prevent falls by the elderly, particularly programs that included balance enhancement. Dance is a series of multi- directional coordinated rhythmic movements with additional mental and social components. This study will determine if participating in 12 months of social dancing is an effective option to prevent falls among the elderly, and whether dancing can improve the motor-cognitive risk factors for falling.