Falls Links 

 October 2024 | Issue 8 

Welcome to the October 2024 issue of our newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

  • Spring into Action to Prevent Falls!
  • Northern NSW LHD Rural Forum and Exercise Workshop Recap
  • Research Highlights

  • Stepping On Updates
  • Outpatient public/private clinics and community teams wanted for physical activity study
  • Upcoming Events

Spring into Action to Prevent Falls!

Spring is here and daylight savings is approaching! Now is a perfect time to head outdoors, get active and take action to prevent falls. The Spring into Action campaign is an initiative supported by the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network to help reduce fall risk among our older friends, family and community.

 

A range of resources have been developed to help get your patients and clients moving and engaging in activity to stay strong and prevent falls including:

  • Spring into Action Quiz (for staff and consumers)
  • Information sheets on topics such as physical activity and healthy eating
  • Posters
  • Email signature and MS teams background
  • Resources to help find local exercise programs suitable for older adults such as Stepping On

Click here to access the Spring into Action content

 

Northern NSW LHD Rural Forum and Exercise Workshop recap

The Northern NSW LHD Rural Forum and Exercise Workshop held on the 20th and 21st of September were a busy couple of days full of learning and networking, with many informative presentations.

 

Thanks to all of our presenters, who came from near and far to present their work in the local health district. 

 

Finally, congratulations and thankyou to the team from the Northern NSW LHD and the CEC, including Allison Wallis, Karen Bowen, Lisa Delaney, Judy Thomas, Leanne White and Ingrid Hutchinson for organising such as successful event.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

How effective are allied health group interventions for the management of adults with long-term conditions? An umbrella review of systematic reviews and its applicability to the Australian primary health system

Dennis S, Kwok W, Alison J, Hassett L, Nisbet G, Refshauge K, Sherrington C, Williams A. BMC Prim Care. 2024 Sep 4;25(1):325.

 

DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02570-7

 

Abstract

Background: Group allied health interventions for people with chronic conditions may be a solution to increasing access to allied health in primary care. This umbrella review aimed to determine the effectiveness of allied health group interventions to improve health-related outcomes for adults with chronic conditions and the applicability of the findings to the Australian primary health care context.

Methods: An umbrella review of systematic reviews conducted April-July 2022, searching eight databases. Systematic reviews were eligible if they included randomised controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-RCTs, community dwelling adults aged ≥ 18, at least one chronic condition, group intervention in scope for allied health professionals, and published in English after 2000. Studies were excluded if interventions were conducted in hospital or aged care facilities, out of scope for allied health, or unsupervised.

Results: Two thousand three hundred eighty-five systematic reviews were identified: after screening and full text review 154 were included and data extracted from 90. The chronic conditions included: cancer (n = 15), cardiovascular disease (n = 6), mixed chronic conditions (n = 3), kidney disease (n = 1), low back pain (n = 12), respiratory disease (n = 8), diabetes (n = 14), heart failure (n = 9), risk of falls (n = 5), hypertension (n = 4, osteoarthritis (n = 6) and stroke (n = 8). Most group interventions included prescribed exercise and were in scope for physiotherapists and exercise physiologists. Overall, allied health group exercise programs for community dwelling adults improved health outcomes for most chronic conditions. Aggregated data from the systematic reviews suggests programs of 45-60 min per session, 2-3 times per week for 12 weeks. Lifestyle education and support for people with type-2 diabetes improved glycaemic control.

Conclusions: Prescribed group exercise delivered by allied health professionals, predominantly by exercise physiologists and physiotherapists, significantly improved health outcomes for community dwelling adults with a broad range of chronic conditions.

 

Read more here

 

For more fall prevention-related research publications, the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network collates abstracts from SafetyLit.org each week which can be viewed here.

Stepping On Update - November Training Day

Places are still available for the next Stepping On training day in November on Monday November 18

For more details or enquiries, visit the Stepping On website:
www.steppingon.com/contact-us/

A copy of the Stepping On training flyer is attached.

Outpatient public/private clinics and community teams wanted for physical activity study

What’s the study about?
The PROMOTE-PA trial is investigating the impact of physical activity promotion delivered by health professionals. We are interested in whether physical activity promotion helps children and adults with disability, and older adults, to be more active.

Who can join the study?
The PROMOTE-PA trial is NOW recruiting outpatient clinics in paediatric and adult settings across NSW.

What does the study involve?
Clinical teams will be recruited and randomly allocated to either the ‘early support group’ to receive support to promote physical activity immediately, or the ‘delayed support group’ (to receive support after recruiting patients). Examples of support include online learning resources, a searchable online physical activity directory, and health coaching training. Each clinical team will be asked to recruit ~20 patients. Patients will complete surveys at baseline, 3-months and 6-months.

Who to contact!
Contact Kate and Jennifer at promote-pa.study@sydney.edu.au for more information.

This study has been approved by the Ethics Review Committee (RPA Zone) of the Sydney Local Health District.  Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should contact the Executive Officer on 02 9515 6766 and quote protocol number X23-0197.

Upcoming Events

Binational Hip Fest 2024

14 - 15 November 2024, Rydges World Square, Sydney, Australia

 

International Society of Posture and Gait Research World Congress 2025

29 June - 3 July 2025, Maastricht Exhibition & Conference Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands

 

International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research
12th - 14th March 2025, Toulouse, France

 

Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand 8th Annual Scientific Meeting

20-23 July 2025, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand

 

11th Biennial Australia & New Zealand Falls Prevention Society Conference

23 - 25 November 2025, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel, Sydney, Australia

 

3rd World Falls Congress, hosted by British Geriatric Society in association with the World Falls Prevention Society and EU Falls Fest Group

24 - 26 June 2026, Manchester, UK

 

ABOUT US

Our vision is to lead the way in fall prevention and other healthy ageing initiatives by harnessing expert knowledge and being collaborative in all we do.

 

We work closely with researchers, policy makers, health practitioners and community service providers in the development and promotion of healthy ageing services and programs with a focus on preventing falls and fall-related injury.

 

Our purpose is to support practitioners to improve the lives of older Australians through healthy ageing initiatives with a focus on preventing falls and fall-related injuries.

SHARE YOUR NEWS

Do you have any news on Falls Prevention or healthy ageing that you want to share with others on the network, or report on a project that is happening in your area. We also welcome suggestions for articles and information you would like to see in this newsletter. Send your news and suggestions to: fallsnetwork@neura.edu.au

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Contact Us:

Telephone +61 2 9399 1063

Email fallsnetwork@neura.edu.au

 

Our mailing address is:
NSW Falls Prevention Network
Neuroscience Research Australia
PO Box 1165
Randwick NSW 2031

 

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