BRAIN Training Trial: Balance, Resistance, Or INterval Training Trial: A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Three Exercise Modalities In Mild Cognitive Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,016,192.00
Summary
About 10% of older adults have mild changes in memory or thinking (Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI) which don’t interfere with daily life, but increase the risk of dementia. Exercise may improve thinking abilities, but the best kind of exercise is not clear. We will randomise 530 older adults with MCI in Australia, Canada, and Israel to weight lifting, high intensity aerobic training or toning exercises for 12 months to see which prescription is best for brain health and overall function.
The BEST At Home Pragmatic Fall Prevention Program: Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness And Implementation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,386,133.00
Summary
Falls are a major public health issue with enormous personal, social and economic consequences. Certain types of exercise can prevent falls, however new strategies are needed to implement these programs more effectively to maximise uptake and adherence by older people. Researchers in fall prevention and health promotion are partnering with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to evaluate the fall prevention effect of the Otago Exercise Programme when implemented in a group-based worksh ....Falls are a major public health issue with enormous personal, social and economic consequences. Certain types of exercise can prevent falls, however new strategies are needed to implement these programs more effectively to maximise uptake and adherence by older people. Researchers in fall prevention and health promotion are partnering with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District to evaluate the fall prevention effect of the Otago Exercise Programme when implemented in a group-based workshop format for older community-dwelling people.Read moreRead less
Effective Strength Training For Walking In Neurological Rehabilitation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$175,303.00
Summary
Muscle weakness is the cause of walking problems following neurological problems such as stroke and brain injury. Many studies have used strengthening exercises but few have benefitted. It appears that clinicians have been strengthening the wrong muscle groups and have not used exercises that stimulate the muscles to work the way they do when walking. The aim of this project is to use well established biomechanical and strengthening guidelines to improve walking after neurological injury.
Partnering With Local Government Councils For Scalable Physical Activity Promotion In Community Parks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,060,745.00
Summary
Aerobic & resistance-based physical activity (PA) levels are alarmingly low in Australia. Council parks are ideal locations for community PA but these facilities are underutilised. There’s a need to partner with Councils to investigate strategies to promote aerobic & resistance-based PA in parks. Partnering with Councils we will evaluate eCoFit, a multi-component intervention involving installation of outdoor fitness equipment with a linked innovative smartphone App, education & social support.
Task-specific Strength Training For Mobility Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,768.00
Summary
I am a senior physiotherapist working in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) unit at Epworth Rehabilitation. We have identified and described the nature and extent of walking problems following TBI. Previous researchers focused on the impact of balance disorders on walking. Our research found that balance disorders are prevalent; the main cause of walking problems is muscle weakness. We will compare balance and muscle strengthening exercises to determine which has a greater impact on walking.
Improving Mobility After Traumatic Brain Injury With Ballistic Strength Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$661,430.00
Summary
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability amongst young adults, many of whom have difficulty walking. Muscle weakness is the main cause of these walking problems, but previous trials have failed to improve walking performance. We have developed new strengthening exercises which focus on how quickly the muscles can contract, rather than just how strong they are. These exercises can increase muscle power by 60-74% and are likely to improve people’s ability to walk.
Lifestyle (LIFE) Versus Structured Balance And Strength Training To Reduce Falls In The Elderly: A Randomized Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,968.00
Summary
Thirty to thirty five percent of persons who are 70 or older fall each year. The magnitude of problems as a result of falling is reflected by the fact that the costs of fall injuries of the elderly to the health system is already more than double that of road injury. It is estimated that these costs will rise substantially and alarmingly in the next 30 to 50 years if we cannot find effective and sustainable ways to make an impact on the incidence of falls in older people. The aim of this project ....Thirty to thirty five percent of persons who are 70 or older fall each year. The magnitude of problems as a result of falling is reflected by the fact that the costs of fall injuries of the elderly to the health system is already more than double that of road injury. It is estimated that these costs will rise substantially and alarmingly in the next 30 to 50 years if we cannot find effective and sustainable ways to make an impact on the incidence of falls in older people. The aim of this project is to improve the capacity of people living at home to avoid falls. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated lifestyle approach to balance and strength exercise (LIFE) and a structured balance and strength exercise program to reducing falls in people who are at high risk . The control group will comprise a gentle flexibility exercise program as this is known to have no effect on reducing falls. In the lifestyle approach (LIFE), older people will be taught how to do balance and strength training and integrate it into their lifestyle so that it is embedded within their daily activity and weekly routines. It is expected that this integrated lifestyle approach to balance and strength training will be effective in reducing falls and will be sustainable over a a one-year period. This study will also determine for which groups of people LIFE is most effective . The research is a three-arm randomized trial that will be conducted with 381 people who are 70 years or over, who have experienced at least two falls in the past year or had an injurious fall. The notion of balance training is not well understood by allied health professionals or older people - a product of this project will be an alternative balance and strength intervention (LIFE) that offers, in a user friendly and simplified manner, a way of operationalizing the principles of balance and strength training for use by older people within their daily lives.Read moreRead less
A Novel Approach To The Training Of Functional Standing Following Spinal Cord Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,706.00
Summary
The study will employ a new type of functional electrical stimulation (FES), strength-endurance muscle conditioning and standing training to improve stance in SCI victims with incomplete paralysis. We will evaluate an innovative combination of muscle training and novel FES protocols which allow paralysed people to stand and perform upper limb functional tasks. The primary outcomes will be duration of standing, number of repetitions of standing and sitting and upper limb function while standing.
Does A Whey-Protein And Vitamin D Enriched Drink Enhance The Health Benefits Of The Lift For Life® Resistance Training Program In Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,023.00
Summary
Since type 2 diabetes is projected to affect over 1.8 million Australians by 2025, there is an urgent need to identify safe and acceptable population-based strategies to improve glucose metabolism and related cardiometabolic risks factors which are common in this population. This study will examine whether increased dietary protein and vitamin D treatment can enhance the effects of resistance training on body composition, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults with ty ....Since type 2 diabetes is projected to affect over 1.8 million Australians by 2025, there is an urgent need to identify safe and acceptable population-based strategies to improve glucose metabolism and related cardiometabolic risks factors which are common in this population. This study will examine whether increased dietary protein and vitamin D treatment can enhance the effects of resistance training on body composition, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults with type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less