Falls Links
January 2025 | Issue 1 |
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Welcome to the January 2025 issue of our newsletter |
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IN THIS ISSUE -
Registration Open for the 2025 Annual Falls Forum
- Save the Date! Rural Forum and Exercise Workshop - Hunter New England LHD
- Last Chance: April Falls 2025 Merchandise Orders
Research Highlights - Stepping On Updates
- Upcoming Events
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Registration Open for the 2025 Annual Forum |
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NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network 2025 Annual Fall Forum Friday May 2nd, 2025 Wesley Conference Centre, Sydney
The NSW Fall Prevention & Healthy Ageing Network Annual Forum provides a fantastic opportunity to come together and learn about the latest on fall prevention and healthy ageing. Listen to experts in their field provide an overview of the latest research, advocacy, quality improvement and fall prevention in residential aged care and hospital, and community program initiatives. This forum also provides a fabulous opportunity to network, exchanges ideas and learn from each other.
Registration is now open for general admission and virtual tickets. All tickets include access to recorded video presentations (available following the forum). - General Admission: $90
- Virtual: $45
Draft program: click here |
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Plenary Speakers include: |
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Prof Pip Logan Professor of Rehabilitation Research and Occupational Therapist at the University of Nottingham and the University of Queensland |
| Prof Cathy Said Physiotherapist and Professor Physiotherapy, Western Health & The University of Melbourne |
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Prof. Ruth Peters Program Lead for Dementia, Global Brain Health Initiative, The George Institute for Global Health
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| Dr Rik Dawson Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health. President, Australian Physiotherapy Association |
| Dr Yoshiro Okubo Research Fellow - Falls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia |
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SAVE THE DATE! Hunter New England LHD Rural Forum and Exercise Workshop |
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The upcoming Hunter New England LHD Rural Forum aims to inspire and motivate local healthcare staff to provide high-quality, evidence-based care with a focus on strategies to reduce risk & harm from falls. Save the Date: 4th April 2025 More details to come. |
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Hunter New England LHD - Exercise to Prevent Falls Workshop |
Saturday 5th April 2025 The Exercise to Prevent Falls in Older People Workshop provides you with the practical skills to develop evidence-based fall prevention strategies. Who is this course for? For Health Professionals working with older people. This workshop will help you tailor exercise programs for falls prevention. Workshop Schedule
6 online learning modules to be completed prior to the practical session through our online learning platform. A 3hr face-to-face practical session including fall risk screening, case study discussions, exercise demonstrations and an opportunity to develop and present an exercise class. More details to come. |
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Last Chance: April Falls 2025 Merchandise Orders |
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The April Falls 2025 campaign seeks to help Australian’s find appropriate exercise programs to meet their needs and interests. During the campaign, we aim to support healthcare professionals and the broader community in promoting balance in all areas of life for fall prevention and healthy ageing, including exercise, nutrition, resilience and social engagement.
We will be promoting best-practice fall prevention strategies with a focus on physical activity for better balance, strength and wellbeing. The 2025 merchandise catalogue and order form are attached. Order cut off date - 29th January 2025.
Please email orders to sales@goodgear.com.au |
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Effectiveness of Exercise Intervention on Mobility, Postural Control, and Falls for Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis
Zeng Z, Ho CY, Sit CH, Wong SH, Liao J, Yang Y. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Dec 12:S0003-9993(24)01399-6.
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.12.002 Abstract
Objective: To review and synthesize the effectiveness of exercise interventions on mobility, postural control, and falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Data sources: This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023453320) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception until September 2024.
Study selection: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effectiveness of exercise interventions on mobility, postural control, and falls in older adults with MCI.
Data extraction: Data extraction included author names, publication years, participant characteristics, intervention details, outcomes, key results, and attrition rates. Data accuracy was verified by 2 reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through consultation with a third reviewer.
Data synthesis: Thirty-two RCTs met the criteria for qualitative systematic review, with 22 RCTs included in the pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis. Aerobic exercise (AE) (SMD 1.07 [95% CI, 0.62-1.52]), multicomponent exercise (SMD 0.46 [95% CI, 0.18-0.74]),and simultaneous cognitive-motor training (SMD 0.56 [95% CI, 0.23-0.89]) significantly improved gait speed during single task (P<.05). AE was the most effective intervention for single-task walking performance (99.3%), whereas Exergaming was the most effective for timed Up and Go performance (100.0%) according to the surface under the cumulative ranking. Paddling exercise (SMD 0.42 [95% CI, 0.16-0.68]) effectively increased handgrip strength (P<.05). However, network meta-analyses revealed no intervention demonstrating significant effects on postural control performance (Berg Balance Scale and Functional Reach Test scores). The effect of exercise on falls remained inconclusive because of the limited number of studies.
Conclusions: AE, multicomponent exercise, and combined cognitive-motor training significantly enhance gait speed and functional performance in older adults with MCI. However, the effect of exercise on fall risk remains unclear. These findings underscore the potential of tailored exercise interventions to improve physical function in this vulnerable population. Read more here
For more fall prevention-related research publications, the NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network collates abstracts each month which can be viewed here. |
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An Australian initiative and program, Stepping On is now licensed in 17 US states! 💜 For more information: https://wihealthyaging.org/programs/falls-prevention-programs/
SWSPHN has commissioned Catholic Healthcare to begin delivering the Stepping On program to older adults in the region. The free, seven-week program is for South Western Sydney residents who are aged 65 and over, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 45 and over.
In South Western Sydney, falls-related injuries more than doubled between 2010-2021. The number of older people affected by falls is projected to increase by 51.4 per cent by 2031, with the highest increases expected in Camden (151 per cent) and Liverpool (62 per cent).
The program aims to equip participants with the knowledge, strength and confidence to prevent falls, stay active and remain independent.
SWSPHN CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said “Stepping On is among the early intervention initiatives the Department of Health and Aged Care has focused on to support senior Australians to age in a healthy way and to delay entry into aged care”. |
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NSW Fall Prevention and Healthy Ageing Annual Forum 2025
2 May 2025, Wesley Conference Centre, 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 |
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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. |
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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
Copyright © NSW Falls Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network |
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