Fall prevention

SafeTrip – step training to reduce falls in older adults

The SafeTrip study will to investigate how older adults learn protective stepping skills to avoid falls when encountering obstacles, trips and slips. With NeuRA’s cutting-edge motion capture system and other wearable devices, the SafeTrip team will be able to observe and analyse movement and muscle activity during reactive or proactive step training. The SafeTrip team are looking for older volunteers aged 65 years and over who: Have not been advised by a medical practitioner not to exercise Have no existing conditions that may prevent them from exercising (e.g. severe pain, heel ulcers, exercise intolerance) Have no neurological conditions (e.g. Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, etc.) Have no history of fracture(s) or joint replacement(s) in the past 12 months Are able to walk 500m comfortably without mobility aids or rest Living independently in the Sydney metropolitan community Are not currently participating in any other falls prevention research studies   Eligible volunteers will be invited to NeuRA for some balance assessments before being randomly allocated to reactive balance training or smart walking programs. Over one year, all participants will undertake 3 weekly training sessions followed by 3-monthly retraining sessions and a 12-month re-assessment session. For more information or to get involved, please contact the SafeTrip team on 02 9399 1067 or safetrip-study@neura.edu.au. HC190952