Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr Yoshiro Okubo obtained his PhD at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, where he investigated the influence walking had on falls in seniors. He was awarded the Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences Chair Award from the University of Tsukuba as well as a Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Dr Okubo is now part of the Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre at NeuRA. His research focuses on helping people learn to better respond to trips, slips and prevent falls. He is hopeful that this work will ensure that older people can maintain their independence as they age.
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:
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
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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