SafeTrip Study

Researchers from neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) are investigating how older adults can learn effective stepping to avoid falling when they experience unpredictable trips and slips.

Falls

Study description/purpose

Falls in older people can be devastating as they can result in fractures, disability and deteriorated quality of life. In 2014/15, more than 100,000 Australians aged 65+ were hospitalized due to a fall. Recent evidence indicates that frail populations present with greater risk for falls and adverse outcomes, highlighting the need for diverse interventions applicable to healthy and at-risk populations.

This study seeks to determine:
• the neuromuscular and biomechanical mechanisms of falls due to trips and slips,
• the mechanisms of reactive balance training,
• the extent of retention of the training effect over one year.

What’s involved

Eligible participants will be asked to attend the Falls and Balance Research Laboratory at NeuRA (in Randwick) to undertake at least two or all the following appointments over a 12-month period:

Baseline Assessment (Visit 1 – up to 3 hours)

• Falls risk assessment

• Trip and slip assessment

• Training session i.e. slip and trip training only (if you have been randomised into the intervention group)

Training Sessions (Visits 2 to 6 – up to 2.5 hours)

• Training session i.e. slip and trip training only (if you have been randomised into the intervention group)

Reassessment (Visit 2 or 7 depending on randomisation – up to 3 hours)

• Falls risk assessment

• Trip and slip assessment

Additional Information

For a quick overview of the study, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeALfM_CB1I.

For a more detailed outline, read this Participant Information Statement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ZpTCFDojLMqZILIxV-Xa3C9sczdEcKg/view.

Or register your interest here: https://data.neura.edu.au/surveys/?s=4Y8YKEXNJ8

Recruitment criteria

Aged 65 and over,
Living independently in the community,
Able to walk 500 meters without mobility aid or resting,
No diagnosed neurological diseases (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and dementia),
No existing conditions that prevent exercise (e.g. severe pain, heel ulcers, exercise intolerance), or advised by a medical practitioner not to exercise, and,
Do not have a history of lower limb, pelvis or vertebral fracture(s) or lower limb joint replacement(s) in the past 6 months.

Benefits

Participants will be reimbursed for any reasonable travel and parking expenses associated with the research study upon presentation of receipt.

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

SafeTrip Research Team

[email protected]

02 9399 1067

The Join Us Register would like to Acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this land.

We pay our respect to our First Nations peoples and their Elders, past, present, and emerging new leaders.

We acknowledge and celebrate the knowledge and the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and recognise their continuing connection to land and waters.

We thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the many individuals, organisations that have supported and guided us through our journey.

+ 61 2 8052 4300

[email protected]

SafeTrip Study

Study description/purpose

What’s involved

Additional Information

Recruitment criteria

Benefits

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

SafeTrip Research Team

Join Us Register

For Participants

For Researchers

Resources

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Register your interest