Dr Daina Sturnieks

TEAM LEADER PROFILE

Dr Daina Sturnieks

Current Appointment

Senior Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Conjoint Senior Research Scientist, NeuRA

Phone Number

02 9399 1062

d.sturnieks@neura.edu.au

Researcher Bio

Dr Sturnieks has a PhD in human biomechanics (UWA). She is Senior Lecturer in Anatomy at UNSW Medicine and Conjoint Senior Research Scientist at NeuRA. Her research focuses on understanding biomechanical, sensorimotor and neurocognitive contributions to balance and falls in older people and clinical groups, and randomised controlled trials of novel interventions to prevent falls involving balance, stepping and cognitive training. Dr Sturnieks is active in translating research findings into community, aged care and hospital settings and is Executive Board Member of the Australian and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society.

Projects Dr Daina Sturnieks is currently involved with

CURRENT PROJECTS

Randomised controlled trial of slip and trip training in older people

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

Randomised controlled trial of slip and trip training in older people

Impact of ageing and exercise on postural reflexes to unpredictable perturbations

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

Impact of ageing and exercise on postural reflexes to unpredictable perturbations

Risk factors for falls in people with cognitive impairment

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

Risk factors for falls in people with cognitive impairment

Economic evaluation of the smartstep trial

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

Economic evaluation of the smartstep trial

Examining the effects of Age, Anxiety and Cognitive load on Balance recovery during perturbed walkin

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

Examining the effects of Age, Anxiety and Cognitive load on Balance recovery during perturbed walking

Improving balance and mobility in aged care rehabilitation

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

Improving balance and mobility in aged care rehabilitation

Smart+Step

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

A program that can be done at home by older people and those with neurological conditions, to train the balance and cognitive functions that are crucial for fall prevention.

Smart+Step

SafeTrip – step training to reduce falls in older adults

PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD, DR YOSHIRO OKUBO, DR DAINA STURNIEKS, DR JASMINE MENANT, DR MATTHEW BRODIE

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 lower limb, pelvis or vertebral fracture(s) or lower limb joint replacement(s) in the past 6 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

SafeTrip – step training to reduce falls in older adults

Mechanistic studies investigating the role of visuo-spatial working memory in balance and gait contr

DR JASMINE MENANT, DR DAINA STURNIEKS, PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD

There is emerging evidence that visuo-spatial processing is involved in balance control during gait. Importantly, visuo-spatial processing may be key for fall avoidance as it enables one to precisely remember the position and physical characteristics of upcoming hazards; an essential skill for the safe navigation of everyday environments. Yet, investigations of visuospatial processing use for obstacle avoidance have been restricted to animal studies and young adults. No studies have been undertaken in older people or people with Parkinson’s Disease for whom visuo-spatial processing deficits are evident and associated with impaired postural control.

This series of studies will investigate visuo-spatial processing required for obstacle avoidance and navigation in older people, older people at high risk of falls and people with Parkinson’s Disease. We will use motion capture to investigate behavioural outcomes and a freely-worn brain imaging device, functional near-infrared spectroscopy to study cortical activation in regions of interest. We will conduct two experiments one involving an obstacle crossing task and another, a stepping task.

We hypothesize that older age, Parkinson’s Disease and increasing task complexity will result in increased risk of tripping and impaired visuo-motor performance, in the obstacle crossing task and in the stepping task, respectively.

This research will greatly improve our understanding of central mechanisms for fall risk and build on our recent behavioural work in this area.

Mechanistic studies investigating the role of visuo-spatial working memory in balance and gait control in ageing, fall risk and Parkinson’s Disease

Treating dizziness in older people

PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD, PROFESSOR AMERICO MIGLIACCIO, PROFESSOR JACQUELINE CLOSE, DR DAINA STURNIEKS, PROFESSOR KIM DELBAERE

Despite effective treatments being available, up to 40% of older people with reported dizziness remain undiagnosed and untreated. A multidisciplinary assessment battery, with new validated assessments of vestibular impairments is required for diagnosing and treating older people with dizziness. This project conducted a randomised-control trial of a multifaceted dizziness intervention based on a multidisciplinary assessment, and developed a multiple profile assessment of dizziness for use in Specialist Clinics.

Treating dizziness in older people

Implementation of a novel exergaming system for improving balance and mobility in aged care rehabili

DR DAINA STURNIEKS

We propose to install the smartstep system in rehabilitation units as an enjoyable, efficient and effective method of training balance, stepping and executive functions for people attending rehabilitation. The smartstep system includes modified versions of popular videogames, to maximise adherence and target specific balance and executive functions, played using an interactive stepping mat. This work aims to implement and evaluate the use of the smartstep system in aged care rehabilitation using a randomised controlled trial, comparing changes in patient balance and mobility performance between intervention and control groups. System user satisfaction will also be evaluated from the perspective of intervention group patients and therapists. In this randomised controlled trial with usual care control, groups will be compared on validated balance and mobility performance measures.

Implementation of a novel exergaming system for improving balance and mobility in aged care rehabilitation

Training to prevent falls in older people

DR DAINA STURNIEKS, PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD, DR JASMINE MENANT, PROFESSOR KIM DELBAERE

To date, no studies have examined the potential for cognitive or cognitive-motor training to prevent falls in older people, despite good evidence of fall-related cognitive and physical improvements following both intervention types. Building on our initial work, we have developed and validated a home-based computerised training intervention that can be delivered identically, either while seated (cognitive) or while standing and undertaking balance exercises (cognitive+motor). Our project will also uncover cognitive-motor interactions and their neural pathways related to falls, via state-of-the-art imaging techniques that measure brain structure and functional changes. This intervention addresses both physical and cognitive fall risk factors. It holds promise for a cost-effective fall prevention strategy with multiple health benefits for older people.

A RCT of cognitive-only and cognitive-motor training to prevent falls in older people

Interactive step training to reduce falls in people with MS

PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD, DR PHU HOANG, DR JASMINE MENANT, DR DAINA STURNIEKS

More than 50% of people with multiple sclerosis will fall over a 3 month period. A clinical trial is being conducted in 500 people with multiple sclerosis who have difficulties with mobility and balance. We hope results of this study will provide solid scientific evidence to include in fall management programs for people with this condition.

An interactive step training RCT to reduce falls in people with Multiple Sclerosis

SAFE-PD (Stepping to avoid falls events in people with Parkinson’s disease)

PROFESSOR STEPHEN LORD, DR DAINA STURNIEKS, DR YOSHIRO OKUBO, DR JASMINE MENANT, DR PAULO PELICIONI

A randomised controlled trial to reduce the risk of falling in people with Parkinson’s disease.

View the clinical trial page for more information and to express interest in volunteering for the study.

SAFE-PD (Stepping to avoid falls events in people with Parkinson’s disease)

WEB MANAGER ANZFPS

NSW FALLS PREVENTION NETWORK

ACTIVE AND HEALTHY

UNSW RESEARCHER DATABASE

UNSW SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE

SIMPLE EXERCISES TO HELP PREVENT A FALL

CAN A BUSY DAY TIP YOU OVER?

SHAKING IN THEIR BOOTS: POSTURAL CONTROL IN ANXIOUS OLDER PEOPLE

RESEARCH TEAM

PHILIP AUBERT Software Developer : p.aubert@neura.edu.au

MATTHEW HAND Research Assistant : m.hand@neura.edu.au

NATASSIA SMITH Research Assistant : n.smith@neura.edu.au

BETHANY HALMY Research Assistant : b.halmy@neura.edu.au

JESSICA TURNER Research Assistant

MAYNA RATANAPONGLEKA Research Assistant

CAMERON HICKS Research Assistant : 9399 1209
: c.hicks@neura.edu.au

ASHLEY WOODBURY Research Assistant

CARLY CHAPLIN Research Assistant : c.chaplin@neura.edu.au

JOANNE LO Research Assistant

DR YOSHIRO OKUBO Postdoctoral Researcher : y.okubo@neura.edu.au

Further information about Dr Daina Sturnieks

RELATED INFORMATION

Lord S; Delbaere K; Sturnieks D, 2019, ‘aging’, in Day BL; Lord SR (ed.), Balance, Gait and Falls Vol 159, Elsevier, pp. 157 – 171, https://www-sciencedirect-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/handbook/handbook-of-clinical-neurology/vol/159/suppl/C

Tiedemann A; Sturnieks DL; Keay L, 2016, ‘Falls’, in International Encyclopedia of Public Health, pp. 84 – 91, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803678-5.00154-5

Sturnieks DL; Sherrington C, 2016, ‘Gait Impairment and Falls’, in Reichel’s Care of the Elderly, 7th edition, Cambridge University Press, pp. 107 – 115

Sturnieks DL; Menant J; Lord SR, 2013, ‘Balance and Ageing’, in The Biology of Ageing and Its Clinical Implication A Practical Handbook, Radcliffe Pub

Sturnieks DL; Tiedemann A; Sherrington C; Lord SR, 2012, ‘Fall Prevention’, in Encyclopedia of Exercise Medicine in Health and Disease, Springer, pp. 331 – 334

sturnieks D; menant J; Lord SR, 2012, ‘Aging, balance and falls’, in Abdulla A; Rai GS (ed.), The Biology of Ageing and Its Clinical Implication, edn. 1st, Radcliffe Pub, London

Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2008, ‘Biomechanical studies for understanding falls in older adults’, in Hong Y; Bartlett R (ed.), Handbook of Biomechanics and Human Movement Science, edn. Original, Routledge, New York, pp. 495 – 509

Sturnieks DL; Tiedemann A, 2008, ‘Falls’, in Heggenbougen K; Quah S (ed.), International Encyclopedia of Public Health, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 563 – 569, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-012373960-5.00059-9

Journal articles

Hirase T; Okubo Y; Delbaere K; Menant JC; Lord SR; Sturnieks DL, 2021, ‘Predictors of development and persistence of musculoskeletal pain in community-dwelling older people: A two-year longitudinal study’, Geriatrics and Gerontology International, vol. 21, pp. 519 – 524, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14172

Pliner EM; Sturnieks DL; Beschorner KE; Redfern MS; Lord SR, 2021, ‘Individual factors that influence task performance on a stepladder in older people’, Safety Science, vol. 136, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105152

Cortes CAT; Chen HT; Sturnieks DL; Garcia J; Lord SR; Lin CT, 2021, ‘Evaluating Balance Recovery Techniques for Users Wearing Head-Mounted Display in VR’, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, vol. 27, pp. 204 – 215, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2019.2927477

Pliner EM; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2020, ‘Individual factors that influence task performance on a straight ladder in older people’, Experimental Gerontology, vol. 142, pp. 111127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2020.111127

Pelicioni PHS; Lord SR; Okubo Y; Sturnieks DL; Menant JC, 2020, ‘People With Parkinson’s Disease Exhibit Reduced Cognitive and Motor Cortical Activity When Undertaking Complex Stepping Tasks Requiring Inhibitory Control’, Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, vol. 34, pp. 1088 – 1098, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1545968320969943

Hirase T; Okubo Y; Menant J; Lord SR; Sturnieks DL, 2020, ‘Impact of pain on reactive balance and falls in community-dwelling older adults: A prospective cohort study’, Age and Ageing, vol. 49, pp. 982 – 988, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa070

Hirase T; Okubo Y; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2020, ‘Pain Is Associated With Poor Balance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis’, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol. 21, pp. 597 – 603.e8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.02.011

Hicks C; Levinger P; Menant JC; Lord SR; Sachdev PS; Brodaty H; Sturnieks DL, 2020, ‘Reduced strength, poor balance and concern about falls mediate the relationship between knee pain and fall risk in older people’, BMC Geriatrics, vol. 20, pp. 94, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-1487-2

Menant JC; Meinrath D; Sturnieks DL; Hicks C; Lo J; Ratanapongleka M; Turner J; Migliaccio AA; Delbaere K; Titov N; Close JCT; Lord SR, 2020, ‘Identifying Key Risk Factors for Dizziness Handicap in Middle-Aged and Older People’, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol. 21, pp. 344 – 350.e2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2019.08.016

Burrows NJ; Barry BK; Sturnieks DL; Booth J; Jones MD, 2020, ‘The Relationship between Daily Physical Activity and Pain in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis’, Pain Medicine (United States), vol. 21, pp. 2481 – 2495, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/PM/PNAA096

Tiedemann A; Sturnieks D; Hill A-M; Lovitt L; Clemson L; Lord S; Sherrington C, 2020, ‘Impact of a fall prevention education program for health and exercise professionals: a randomised controlled trial’, Public Health Research & Practice, http://dx.doi.org/10.17061/phrp30342013

Sturnieks D; Okubo Y; Brodie M; Lord S, 2019, ‘159 Reactive Balance Training for Preventing Falls in Older People’, Age and Ageing, vol. 48, pp. iv34 – iv39, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afz164.159

Menant J; Pelicioni P; Okubo Y; Canning C; Sturnieks D; Lord S, 2019, ‘161 Brain Activation Assessed with Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FNIRS) During Stepping and Gait in Older People and Those with PD’, Age and Ageing, vol. 48, pp. iv34 – iv39, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afz164.161

Sturnieks D; Tan B; Persiani M; Brodie M; Lord S, 2019, ’20 Optic Flow Stimuli Effects on Standing Balance in Young and Older People with Low and High Fall Risk’, Age and Ageing, vol. 48, pp. iv6 – iv8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afz164.20

Menant J; Meinrath D; Sturnieks D; Migliaccio A; Close J; Lord S; Delbaere K; Titov N, 2019, ’78 Development of a Multifactorial Assessment of Dizziness for Middle-Aged and Older People’, Age and Ageing, vol. 48, pp. iv18 – iv27, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afz164.78

Okubo Y; Sturnieks DL; Brodie MA; Duran L; Lord SR; Newman A, 2019, ‘Effect of Reactive Balance Training Involving Repeated Slips and Trips on Balance Recovery among Older Adults: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial’, Journals of Gerontology – Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, vol. 74, pp. 1489 – 1496, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glz021

Sturnieks DL; Menant J; Valenzuela M; Delbaere K; Sherrington C; Herbert RD; Lampit A; Broadhouse K; Turner J; Schoene D; Lord SR, 2019, ‘Effect of cognitive-only and cognitive-motor training on preventing falls in community-dwelling older people: Protocol for the smart±step randomised controlled trial’, BMJ Open, vol. 9, pp. e029409, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029409

Okubo Y; Brodie MA; Sturnieks DL; Hicks C; Lord SR, 2019, ‘A pilot study of reactive balance training using trips and slips with increasing unpredictability in young and older adults: Biomechanical mechanisms, falls and clinical feasibility’, Clinical Biomechanics, vol. 67, pp. 171 – 179, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.05.016

Pang I; Okubo Y; Sturnieks D; Lord SR; Brodie MA, 2019, ‘Detection of Near Falls Using Wearable Devices: A Systematic Review’, Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, vol. 42, pp. 48 – 56, http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JPT.0000000000000181

Okubo Y; Brodie MA; Sturnieks DL; Hicks C; Carter H; Toson B; Lord SR, 2018, ‘Exposure to trips and slips with increasing unpredictability while walking can improve balance recovery responses with minimum predictive gait alterations’, PLoS ONE, vol. 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202913

Vance E; Farlie MK; Kool B; Tiedemann A; Hatton AL; Sherrington C; Sturnieks DL, 2018, ‘Health professional student education related to the prevention of falls in older people: A survey of universities in Australia and New Zealand’, Australasian Journal on Ageing, vol. 37, pp. E116 – E119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12543

Menant JC; Migliaccio AA; Sturnieks DL; Hicks C; Lo J; Ratanapongleka M; Turner J; Delbaere K; Titov N; Meinrath D; McVeigh C; Close JCT; Lord SR, 2018, ‘Reducing the burden of dizziness in middle-aged and older people: A multifactorial, tailored, single-blind randomized controlled trial’, PLoS Medicine, vol. 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002620

Sturnieks DL; Yak SL; Ratanapongleka M; Lord SR; Menant JC, 2018, ‘A busy day has minimal effect on factors associated with falls in older people: An ecological randomised crossover trial’, Experimental Gerontology, vol. 106, pp. 192 – 197, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2018.03.009

Lord SR; Delbaere K; Sturnieks DL, 2018, ‘Aging’, Handb Clin Neurol, vol. 159, pp. 157 – 171, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63916-5.00010-0

Caetano MJD; Lord SR; Brodie MA; Schoene D; Pelicioni PHS; Sturnieks DL; Menant JC, 2018, ‘Executive functioning, concern about falling and quadriceps strength mediate the relationship between impaired gait adaptability and fall risk in older people’, Gait and Posture, vol. 59, pp. 188 – 192, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.10.017

Brodie MA; Okubo Y; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2018, ‘Optimizing successful balance recovery from unexpected trips and slips’, Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, vol. 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1299/jbse.17-00558

Caetano MJD; Menant JC; Schoene D; Pelicioni PHS; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2017, ‘Sensorimotor and Cognitive Predictors of Impaired Gait Adaptability in Older People’, The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, vol. 72, pp. 1257 – 1263, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glw171

Menant JC; Weber F; Lo J; Sturnieks DL; Close JC; Sachdev PS; Brodaty H; Lord SR, 2017, ‘Strength measures are better than muscle mass measures in predicting health-related outcomes in older people: time to abandon the term sarcopenia?’, Osteoporosis International, vol. 28, pp. 59 – 70, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00198-016-3691-7

Okubo Y; Menant J; Udyavar M; Brodie MA; Barry BK; Lord SR; L. Sturnieks D, 2017, ‘Transfer effects of step training on stepping performance in untrained directions in older adults: A randomized controlled trial’, Gait and Posture, vol. 54, pp. 50 – 55, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.02.014

Menant JC; Migliaccio AA; Hicks C; Lo J; Meinrath D; Ratanapongleka M; Turner J; Sturnieks DL; Delbaere K; Titov N; McVeigh C; Close JCT; Lord SR, 2017, ‘Tailored multifactorial intervention to improve dizziness symptoms and quality of life, balance and gait in dizziness sufferers aged over 50 years: protocol for a randomised controlled trial’, BMC Geriatrics, vol. 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0450-3

Sturnieks DL; Delbaere K; Brodie MA; Lord SR, 2016, ‘The influence of age, anxiety and concern about falling on postural sway when standing at an elevated level’, Human Movement Science, vol. 49, pp. 206 – 215, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2016.06.014

Barr C; McLoughlin JV; van den Berg MEL; Sturnieks DL; Crotty M; Lord SR, 2016, ‘Visual field dependence is associated with reduced postural sway, dizziness and falls in older people attending a falls clinic’, Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, vol. 20, pp. 671 – 675, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0681-y

Caetano MJD; Lord SR; Schoene D; Pelicioni PHS; Sturnieks DL; Menant JC, 2016, ‘Age-related changes in gait adaptability in response to unpredictable obstacles and stepping targets’, Gait and Posture, vol. 46, pp. 35 – 41, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.02.003

Brodie MAD; Coppens MJM; Lord SR; Lovell NH; Gschwind YJ; Redmond SJ; Del Rosario MB; Wang K; Sturnieks DL; Persiani M; Delbaere K, 2016, ‘Wearable pendant device monitoring using new wavelet-based methods shows daily life and laboratory gaits are different’, Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, vol. 54, pp. 663 – 674, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11517-015-1357-9

McLoughlin JV; Barr CJ; Patritti B; Crotty M; Lord SR; Sturnieks DL, 2016, ‘Fatigue induced changes to kinematic and kinetic gait parameters following six minutes of walking in people with multiple sclerosis’, Disability and Rehabilitation, vol. 38, pp. 535 – 543, http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2015.1047969

McLoughlin J; Barr C; Crotty M; Lord SR; Sturnieks DL, 2015, ‘Association of postural sway with disability status and cerebellar dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study’, International Journal of MS Care, vol. 17, pp. 146 – 151, http://dx.doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073.2014-003

McLoughlin JV; Lord SR; Barr CJ; Crotty M; Sturnieks DL, 2015, ‘Dorsiflexion assist orthosis reduces the physiological cost and mitigates deterioration in strength and balance associated with walking in people with multiple sclerosis’, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 96, pp. 226 – 232.e1, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2014.09.005

Brosseau L; Wells G; Brooks-Lineker S; Bennell K; Sherrington C; Briggs A; Sturnieks D; King J; Thomas R; Egan M; Loew L; De Angelis G; Casimiro L; April KT; Cavallo S; Bell M; Ahmed R; Coyle D; Poitras S; Smith C; Pugh A; Rahman P, 2015, ‘Internet-based implementation of non-pharmacological interventions of the “people getting a grip on arthritis” educational program: An international online knowledge translation randomized controlled trial design protocol’, JMIR Research Protocols, vol. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/resprot.3572

Suttle CM; Asper LJ; Sturnieks D; Menant J, 2015, ‘Negligible impact on posture from 5-Diopter vertical yoked prisms’, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 56, pp. 2980 – 2984, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.14-15866

Burrows N; Sturnieks D; Booth J; Barry B, 2015, ‘The Relationship Between Daily Physical Activity And Pain In Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis’, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 47, pp. 363 – 363, http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000477413.49610.b0

Menant JC; Sturnieks DL; Brodie MAD; Smith ST; Lord SR, 2014, ‘Visuospatial tasks affect locomotor control more than nonspatial tasks in older people’, PLoS ONE, vol. 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109802

Burrows NJ; Booth J; Sturnieks DL; Barry BK, 2014, ‘Acute resistance exercise and pressure pain sensitivity in knee osteoarthritis: a randomised crossover trial’, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, vol. 22, pp. 407 – 414, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.12.023

Journal articles

Smith E; Bailey PE; Crawford J; Samaras K; Baune BT; Campbell L; Kochan N; Menant J; Sturnieks DL; Brodaty H; Sachdev P; Trollor JN, 2014, ‘Adiposity estimated using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and body mass index and its association with cognition in elderly adults’, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 62, pp. 2311 – 2318, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.13157

Tiedemann A; Sturnieks DL; Hill AM; Lovitt L; Clemson L; Lord SR; Harvey L; Sherrington C, 2014, ‘Does a fall prevention educational programme improve knowledge and change exercise prescribing behaviour in health and exercise professionals? A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial’, BMJ Open, vol. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007032

Wong AKW; Lord SR; Trollor JN; Sturnieks DL; Delbaere K; Menant J; Brodaty H; Sachdev PS; Close JCT, 2014, ‘High arterial pulse wave velocity is a risk factor for falls in community-dwelling older people’, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 62, pp. 1534 – 1539, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12931

Barry BK; Sturnieks DL, 2014, ‘How important are perturbation responses and joint proprioception to knee osteoarthritis?’, Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 116, pp. 1 – 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01207.2013

McLoughlin JV; Barr CJ; Crotty M; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2014, ‘Six minutes of walking leads to reduced lower limb strength and increased postural sway in people with Multiple Sclerosis’, NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 35, pp. 503 – 508, http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/NRE-141143

Barr C; McLoughlin J; Lord SR; Crotty M; Sturnieks DL, 2014, ‘Walking for six minutes increases both simple reaction time and stepping reaction time in moderately disabled people with Multiple Sclerosis’, Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, vol. 3, pp. 457 – 462, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2014.01.002

Sturnieks DL; Menant J; Delbaere K; Vanrenterghem J; Rogers MW; Fitzpatrick RC; Lord SR, 2013, ‘Force-Controlled Balance Perturbations Associated with Falls in Older People: A Prospective Cohort Study’, PLoS ONE, vol. 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070981

Hatton AL; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR; Lo JCM; Menz HB; Menant JC, 2013, ‘Effects of nonslip socks on the gait patterns of older people when walking on a slippery surface’, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, vol. 103, pp. 471 – 479, http://dx.doi.org/10.7547/1030471

Wong K; Lord SR; Sturnieks DL; Delbaere K; Trollor JN; Close J, 2013, ‘Angiotensin System-Blocking Medications Are Associated with Fewer Falls over 12 Months in Community-Dwelling Older People’, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 61, pp. 776 – 781, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12205

Pascoe DA; Sturnieks DL; Close JCT; Tiedemann A; Lord SR; Twomey D; Finch CF, 2013, ‘Knowledge outcomes and retention of a university-based falls prevention education program’, FOCUS ON HEALTH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, vol. 15, pp. 55 – 66

McLoughlin JV; Barr C; Sturnieks DL; Lord S; Crotty M, 2013, ‘Older fallers with self-reported dizziness have high levels of anxiety and depression and adopt a stiffening strategy when exposed to optokinetic stimuli’, Journal of Aging Research & Clinical Practice, vol. 2, pp. 148 – 151, http://www.jarcp.com/all-issues.html?article=122

McLoughlin J; Barr C; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR; Crotty M, 2013, ‘Older fallers with self-reported dizziness have high levels of anxiety and depression and adopt a stiffening stratgy when exposed to optokinetic stimuli’, Journal of Aging Research & Clinical Practice, vol. 2, pp. 148 – 151, http://www.jarcp.com/all-issues.html?article=122

Menant J; Wong K; Sturnieks D; Close J; Delbaere K; Sachdev PS; Brodaty H; Lord SR, 2013, ‘Pain and anxiety mediate the relationship between dizziness and falls in older people’, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 61, pp. 423 – 428, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12131

Ilich SS; Dempsey AR; Mills PM; Sturnieks DL; Stachowiak GW; Maguire KF; Kuster MS; Lloyd DG, 2013, ‘Physical activity patterns and function 3 months after arthroscopic partial menisectomy’, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, vol. 16, pp. 195 – 199, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2012.08.007

Hatton AL; Menant JC; Lord SR; Lo JCM; Sturnieks DL, 2013, ‘The effect of lower limb muscle fatigue on obstacle negotiation during walking in older adults’, Gait and Posture, vol. 37, pp. 506 – 510, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.09.004

McLoughlin J; Barr C; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR; Crotty M, 2012, ‘Effect of wearing a dorsiflexion assist orthosis on mobility, perceived fatigue and exertion during the six-minute walk test in people with multiple sclerosis: a randomised cross-over protocol’, BMC NEUROLOGY, vol. 12, pp. Article number 27, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-12-27

Menant J; Sturnieks D; Fitzpatrick R; Lord S, 2012, ‘La réponse à des perturbations d’équilibres soudaines est un prédicteur de chutes chez les personnes âgées’, Neurophysiologie Clinique/Clinical Neurophysiology, vol. 42, pp. 404 – 404, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2012.09.058

Delbaere K; Kochan NA; Close J; Menant J; Sturnieks DL; Brodaty H; Sachdev PS; Lord SR, 2012, ‘Mild Cognitive impairment as a predictor of falls in community-dwelling older people’, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol. 20, pp. 845 – 853, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e31824afbc4

Sturnieks DL; Menant J; Vanrenterghem J; Delbaere K; Fitzpatrick RC; Lord S, 2012, ‘Sensorimotor and neuropsychological correlates of force perturbations that induce stepping in older adults’, Gait and Posture, vol. 36, pp. 356 – 360, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.03.007

Lord SR; Delbaere K; Tiedemann A; Smith ST; Sturnieks DL, 2011, ‘Implementing falls prevention research into policy and practice: an overview of a new National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Grant’, NSW Public Health Bulletin, vol. 22, pp. 84 – 87, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/NB10058

Sturnieks DL; Besier T; Lloyd DG, 2011, ‘Muscle activations to stabilize the knee following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy’, Clinical Biomechanics, vol. 26, pp. 292 – 297, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2010.11.003

Helbostad J; Sturnieks DL; Menant JC; Delbaere K; Lord SR; Pijnappels M, 2010, ‘Consequences of lower extremity and trunk muscle fatigue on balance and functional tasks in older people’, BMC Geriatrics, vol. 10, pp. 1 – 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-10-56

Sturnieks DL; Finch C; Close J; Tiedemann A; Lord SR; Pascoe DA, 2010, ‘Exercise for falls prevention in older people: Assessing the knowledge of exercise science students’, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, vol. 13, pp. 59 – 64, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2008.11.005

Nightingale EJ; Sturnieks DL; Sherrington C; Moseley AM; Cameron ID; Lord SR, 2010, ‘Impaired weight transfer persists at elast four months after hip fracture and rehabilitation’, Clinical Rehabilitation, vol. 24, pp. 565 – 573, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269215509360753

Lord SR; Sturnieks DL, 2010, ‘Preventing Falls in Older Adults’, Reps Magazine – Official Publication of Fitness Australia, vol. 8, pp. 46 – 47

Pijnappels M; Delbaere K; Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2010, ‘The association between choice stepping reaction time and falls in older adults – a path analysis model’, Age and Ageing, vol. 39, pp. 99 – 104, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afp200

Delbaere K; Sturnieks DL; Crombez G; Lord SR, 2009, ‘Concern about falls elicits changes in gait parameters in conditions of postural threat in older people’, Journals of Gerontology, Series A : Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, vol. 64, pp. 237 – 242, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gln014

Boswell-Ruys CL; Sturnieks DL; Harvey LA; Sherrington C; Middleton JW; Lord SR, 2009, ‘Validity and Reliability of Assessment Tools for Measuring Unsupported Sitting in People With a Spinal Cord Injury’, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 90, pp. 1571 – 1577, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2009.02.016

Sturnieks DL; Besier TF; Hamer PW; Ackland TR; Mills PM; Stachowiak GW; Podsiadlo P; Lloyd DG, 2008, ‘Knee strength and knee adduction moments following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy’, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 40, pp. 991 – 997, http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318167812a

Sturnieks DL; Besier TF; Mills PM; Ackland TR; Maguire KF; Stachowiak GW; Podsiadlo P; Lloyd DG, 2008, ‘Knee joint biomechanics following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy’, Journal of Orthopaedic Research, vol. 26, pp. 1075 – 1080, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jor.20610

Sturnieks DL; St George RJ; Lord SR, 2008, ‘Balance disorders in the elderly’, Neurophysiologie Clinique – Clinical Neurophysiology, vol. 38, pp. 467 – 478, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2008.09.001

Sturnieks DL; St George RJ; Fitzpatrick RC; Lord SR, 2008, ‘Effects of spatial and nonspatial memory tasks on choice stepping reaction time in older people’, Journals of Gerontology, Series A : Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, vol. 63A, pp. 1063 – 1068, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gerona/63.10.1063

Lord SR; Delbaere K; Sturnieks DL; Crombez G, 2008, ‘P2.025 Perceived falls risk elicits changes in gait parameters in conditions of postural threat in older people’, Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, vol. 14, pp. S50 – S50, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1353-8020(08)70254-2

Sturnieks DL; Wright JR; Fitzpatrick RC, 2007, ‘Detection of simultaneous movement at two human arm joints’, The Journal of Physiology, vol. 585, pp. 833 – 842, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2007.139089

Sturnieks D, 2006, ‘Calling on exercise scientists to participate in broader efforts to prevent falls in older adults’, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, vol. 9, pp. 195 – 198, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2006.04.002

Sturnieks D; Lord S; Fitzpatrick R, 2006, ‘Thresholds for inducing protective stepping to force-controlled perturbations in young and old adults’, Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 39, pp. S88 – S88, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0021-9290(06)83245-8

Sturnieks DL; Bent LR; Fitzpatrick RC, 2005, ‘5.29 Vestibular input is calibrated to a visual referenceframe during walking’, Gait & Posture, vol. 21, pp. S30 – S31, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0966-6362(05)80104-3

Lord SR; Sturnieks DL; St George R; Fitzpatrick RC, 2005, ‘9.9 Different effects of spatial and non-spatial memorytasks on stepping reaction times’, Gait & Posture, vol. 21, pp. S54 – S54, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0966-6362(05)80178-x

Lord SR; Sturnieks DL, 2005, ‘The physiology of falling: assessment and prevention strategies for older people’, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, vol. 8, pp. 35 – 42, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1440-2440(05)80022-2

Sturnieks DL; Tiedemann A; Chapman K; Munro B; Murray S; Lord SR, 2004, ‘Physiological risk factors for falls in older people with lower limb arthritis’, Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 31, pp. 2272 – 2279

Besier TF; Sturnieks DL; Alderson JA; Lloyd DG, 2003, ‘Repeatability of gait data using a functional hip joint centre and a mean helical knee axis’, Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 36, pp. 1159 – 1168, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9290(03)00087-3

Hicks CJ; Levinger P; Menant JC; Lord SR; Sachdev PS; Brodaty H; Sturnieks DL, ‘Reduced strength, poor balance and concern about falls mediate the relationship between knee pain and fall risk in older people’, , http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.12970/v1

Conference Papers

Okubo Y; Brodie A; Sturnieks D; Toson B ; Hicks C; Lord S, 2017, ‘Unpredictable slip and trip training invokes both reactive and proactive learning’, in Brisbane 2017 XXVI Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, XXVI Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Brisbane, pp. 230 – 230, presented at XXVI Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Brisbane, 23 July 2017 – 27 July 2017

Brodie MA; Lovell NH; Canning CG; Menz HB; Delbaere K; Redmond SJ; Latt M; Sturnieks DL; Menant J; Smith ST; others , 2014, ‘Gait as a biomarker? Accelerometers reveal that reduced movement quality while walking is associated with Parkinson’s disease, ageing and fall risk’, in Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), 2014 36th Annual International Conference of the IEEE, IEEE, pp. 5968 – 5971, IEEE, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2014.6944988

Mills PM; Sturnieks D; Dempsey A; Ilich S; Ackland T; Lloyd DG; Besier T, 2013, ‘QUADRICEPS-HAMSTRINGS COACTIVATION DURING MAXIMAL STRENGTH TESTING DOES NOT REFLECT COACTIVATION DURING WALKING 3 MONTHS FOLLOWING ARTHROSCOPIC PARTIAL MENISCECTOMY’, in OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE, ELSEVIER SCI LTD, Philadelphia, PA, pp. S275 – S275, presented at World Congress of the Osteoarthritis-Research-Society-International (OARSI), Philadelphia, PA, 18 April 2013 – 21 April 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2013.02.576

Sturnieks DL; Lord SR, 2004, ‘Physiological risk factors for falls in people with lower limb arthritis’, in Lord S (ed.), Australian Falls Prevention Inaugural Conference, Australian Falls Prevention Inaugural Conference, Sydney, pp. 42 – 42, presented at Australian Falls Prevention Inaugural Conference, Sydney, 21 November 2004 – 23 November 2004

Conference Abstracts

Menant J; Close JCT; Migliaccio A; Titov N; Delbaere K; Sturnieks D; McVeigh C; Lord SR, 2016, ‘A multifactorial approach for treating dizziness in older people: a randomised-controlled trial’, in AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Vol. 35, pp. 31 – 31, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000377202500051&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a29b250adbe88d1

Recorded / Rendered Creative Works

Garbutt MD; Grealy J, 2006, Falls Prevention, Video, Published: 2006, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works

PUBLICATIONS

Reducing the burden of dizziness in middle-aged and older people: A multifactorial, tailored, single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Menant JC, Migliaccio AA, Sturnieks DL, Hicks C, Lo J, Ratanapongleka M, Turner J, Delbaere K, Titov N, Meinrath D, McVeigh C, Close JCT, Lord SR

PLoS Med.. 2018 07;15(7):e1002620. doi: 30040818. Epub 2017 Jul.

A multifactorial tailored approach for treating dizziness was effective in reducing dizziness handicap in community-living people aged 50 years and older. No difference was seen on the other primary outcomes. Our findings therefore support the implementation of individualized, multifaceted evidence-based therapies to reduce self-perceived disability associated with dizziness in middle-aged and older people.

A busy day has minimal effect on factors associated with falls in older people: An ecological randomised crossover trial.

Sturnieks DL, Yak SL, Ratanapongleka M, Lord SR, Menant JC

Exp. Gerontol.. 2018 06;106():192-197. doi: 29544910. Epub 2017 Mar.

Executive functioning, concern about falling and quadriceps strength mediate the relationship between impaired gait adaptability and fall risk in older people.

Caetano MJD, Lord SR, Brodie MA, Schoene D, Pelicioni PHS, Sturnieks DL, Menant JC

Gait Posture. 2018 01;59():188-192. doi: 29055270. Epub 2017 Oct.

Impaired gait adaptability is associated with high risk of falls in older adults. Reduced executive function, increased concern about falling and weaker quadriceps strength contribute significantly to this relationship. Training gait adaptability directly, as well as addressing the above mediators through cognitive, behavioural and physical training may maximise fall prevention efficacy.

View all publications