Balance & stability study for fall prevention – Participate in research
Join our study and help us better understand balance and stability to prevent falls through early detection of instability.
About this project
Falls are a leading cause of injury related hospitalisations and deaths among older adults, significantly impacting independence, quality of life, and healthcare systems globally. The emotional and financial burden is substantial, with fall related injuries costing billions each year in medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term support.
Despite decades of research, predicting who is at risk of falling and when remains a major challenge.
This project aims to address this challenge by developing a real-time predictive model of gait stability that combines wearable sensor data with advanced artificial intelligence techniques to detect early signs of instability and help prevent falls before they happen.
This research is led by the Institute for Health and Sport (IHES) at Victoria University.
What is involved?
Participants in this study will be asked to:
- Wear small wearable sensors on the body to record movement data during walking tasks
- Walk at their normal pace along a straight walkway with turns at different angles through a structured walking course
- Complete a short General Health Assessment Questionnaire prior to participation
Participation involves a single session lasting approximately 2 hours at the Biomechanics Lab (Building P, Room PB301), Footscray Park Campus, Victoria University.
Who can take part?
We are currently recruiting older adult volunteers. You may be eligible if you:
- Are aged 65 years or older
- Are in good general health
- Can walk independently without an aid
- Have not had a fall in the last 12 months
- Have no untreated vision problems
- Have a body mass index (BMI) under 30
- Are not currently pregnant