Digital exercise program to prevent falls

UNSW Medicine & Health Professor Kim Delbaere will receive a $1.3m Development Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to transition a home-based digital exercise program.

The NHMRC’s Development Grant Scheme is designed to support the translation of proof-of-concept research into commercial outcomes. Delbaere, a Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA, was one of 16 successful recipients of this funding round.

The grant will be used to develop StandingTall from a research-only app to a commercial offering that provides a cost-effective fall prevention solution for all older Australians.

StandingTall is a digital exercise program with proven clinical effectiveness to prevent falls in older people, Delbaere said.

“The program identifies the optimal set of exercises from a library of over 6000 exercises, based on an inbuilt balance assessment.

“This vital funding will enable us to develop a scalable, commercial-ready program, co-designed with consumers and leading home care providers.”

The StandingTall program is recommended for people aged 60 years or over, who can walk within their own home without the use of a walking aid, said UNSW in a statement. The program is tailored to the individual, but delivers balance and strength exercises to reduce fall risk.

The national guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week and the StandingTall program is designed to help older Australians achieve this goal safely.

The program should be used for six months, with participants increasing their daily activity to an optimum 40 minutes per day. The platform allows users to schedule exercise sessions, set goals and track progress.

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