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  3. Professor Stephen Lord
8 April 2025 09:15 - 10:15 AM
Zoom link
TRI-UC 2nd Floor Auditorium
550 University Ave

Abstract

Falls pose a significant threat to the well-being and quality of life of older adults. They can lead to fractures, other injuries, disability, fear, and a decline in physical function and autonomy. This presentation will synthesize recent findings from Neuroscience Research Australia on the role of new technologies in facilitating fall risk and mobility assessments, as well as fall prevention interventions for older adults. Topics will include: the utility of wearable sensors (such as wrist-worn sensors and smartphones) for predicting fall injuries and other health outcomes, and the efficacy of e-health and exergame interventions for fall prevention. The presentation will summarize findings from a series of randomized controlled trials that have utilized laboratory-based reactive balance training and home-based volitional step training as interventions. It will explore the mechanisms underlying training effects on improved stepping performance and present the findings of a recently published large randomized controlled trial that demonstrated exergame step training can reduce falls by 26% (IRR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.56–0.98). Additionally, it will describe recent work incorporating reactive and voluntary stepping into VR treadmill training and practical interventions for use in clinical settings.

Biography

Professor Stephen Lord is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia. He has published over 400 papers in the areas of balance, gait, and falls in older people and is acknowledged as a leading international researcher in his field. His research follows two main themes: the identification of physiological risk factors for falls and the development and evaluation of fall prevention strategies. Key aspects of this research have been the elucidation of sensorimotor factors that underpin balance and gait and the design and evaluation of exercise programs for older people including those at increased risk of falls, i.e. people with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, dementia and frailty. His methodology and approach to fall-risk assessment has been adopted by many researchers and clinicians across the world and he is actively engaged in initiatives aimed at implementing falls prevention evidence into policy and practice.

In December 2019, Stephen was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the President of the British Geriatrics Society in recognition for his contribution to falls research.

Knowledge . Innovation . Talent . Everywhere

Knowledge . Innovation . Talent . Everywhere

Knowledge

Innovation

Talent

Everywhere

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