A research team from the University of Central Florida has gotten a $2.3 million grant to address falling injuries for seniors.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities gave the grant so that researchers with the Orlando-based public university can study low cost and portable technology to assess fall risk. The work would also seek to reduce disparities in access to those across racially diverse groups and for low-income people.
Why this matters: New university research can lead to innovation in a variety of fields. The research can also lead to commercialization like a new product or change how a challenge is handled.
Researchers have previously tested their Physio-Feedback and Exercise (PEER) program through a NIH-funded two-year technology study.The technology looks like a small scale and can be linked to a computer, with the goal to improve balance and reduce fear of falling through early intervention and promoting physical activity that improves balance.
Ladda Thiamwong, an associate professor at the College of Nursing and the project’s principal investigator, said in a prepared statement that the grant will allow the technology to be tested in Central Florida within low-income communities. “With this real-world testing, we hope to be able to prove it works and is sustainable in order to scale up and prevent falls in more communities.”
The eight-week intervention program also includes an exercise program to improve balance and cognitive reframing tied to reducing falling fear. Researchers will be able to track the changes in balance for seniors over that time.
Other researchers that are part of the multidisciplinary team include director of UCF’s School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences Jeffrey Stout, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Joon-Hyuk Park, assistant professor in the college's Department of Statistics and Data Science Rui Xie, assistant professor of psychology Nichole Lighthall and associate professor in UCF’s College of Nursing Vicki Loerzel.
Work from the researchers supports the City Beautiful Livable Orlando: An Age-Friendly Initiative Action Plan 2022-2025 from the city of Orlando, which includes goals to help older adults stay in their homes and be able to live healthier lives. The city recently worked with bus service Lynx to expand the Green Line into SoDo to reach the Beardall Senior Center as part of its goals to promote healthy living.
“As the population of our city ages and residents are living healthier, more active and longer lives, it’s important we ensure Orlando is a well-designed, livable community that promotes health and sustains economic growth, creating happier and healthier residents of all ages,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a prepared statement. “We are excited to work with UCF on this grant as it will play a significant part in understanding how we can improve the health and safety of our older adult population and better implement age-friendly initiatives, especially in underserved neighborhoods.”
Meanwhile, UCF during fiscal year 2022 was awarded $214.86 million in research funding. That total is up from $212.9 million in 2021 and $204.1 million in 2020.
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