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 baseline assessments before being randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group. Only the intervention group will undertake 3 weekly reactive balance training sessions followed by 3-monthly retraining sessions, while the control group assume their usual activity. All participants will receive a fall prevention information booklet and will be invited back to NeuRA for a 12-month re-assessment. For more information or to get involved, please contact the SafeTrip team on 02 9399 1067 or safetrip-study@neura.edu.au. HC190952