Dr Daina Sturnieks
TEAM LEADER PROFILE
Senior Research Scientist
Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW
+612 9399 1062
Dr Sturnieks has a PhD in human biomechanics (UWA). She is Laboratory Manager for the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre at NeuRA including a new state-of-the-art Balance and Gait Analysis Laboratory. 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
Implementation of a novel exergaming system for improving balance and mobility in aged care rehabili
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.
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Implementation of a novel exergaming system for improving balance and mobility in aged care rehabilitation
Training to prevent falls in older people
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.READ MORE
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
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.READ MORE
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)
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.
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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 AUBERG Software Developer : p.auberg@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
DINAZ PAREKH Research Assistant : d.parekh@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
PUBLICATIONS
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
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.
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
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.
Transfer effects of step training on stepping performance in untrained directions in older adults: A randomized controlled trial.
Okubo Y, Menant J, Udyavar M, Brodie MA, Barry BK, Lord SR, L Sturnieks D
Step training only in the forward direction improved stepping speed but may acutely slow response times in the untrained diagonal direction. However, this acute effect appears to dissipate after a few repeated step trials. Step training in both forward and lateral directions appears to induce no negative transfer effects in diagonal stepping. These findings suggest home-based step training systems present low risk of harm through negative transfer effects in untrained stepping directions.