Team SDR and Team Wellness: Debunking the Myths of Older Adult Falls

Team University of Dayton Engineering & Safety Lab No. 24: Interview with a Physical Therapist

In the field of prosthetics, balance is crucial to rehabilitation after a person undergoes an amputation. Melanie Welch, a licensed physical therapist at Dayton Artificial Limb, was interviewed about the significance of balance therapy.


The first step of balance therapy is finding out why an individual has poor balance. Balance is dependent on multiple factors including posture, strength, range of motion, sensory abilities, an individual’s reaction abilities, and vestibular effects. The physical therapist tests the person’s “ability to balance sitting, standing, and experiencing external forces,” says Welch. In these tests, a therapist looks for balance reactions in an individual’s ankles and hips, specifically. In her patients, poor balance often results from stiffness or weakness.

After determining the issue causing instability, the next step is to address the issue. Strength and mobility exercises are some of the most common tools for improving an individual’s balance. In some cases, a patient is instructed on the use of assistive devices which help them maintain a stable base of support. A stable base of support is an important factor in stability; a wide, shoulder-width stance is more stable than standing with the feet together. Balance is affected by many things, and being able to influence those factors using techniques such as balance therapy, allows a person to walk with good stability.

Blue Zone Your Memory No. 40: Fear of Falling

 Sometimes the fear of falling decreases our confidence to pursue independent activity, which increases frailty and the possibility of falling (University of Lausanne, Switzerland, 2011). Using a fall self-efficacy scale this university’s research revealed that exercise and cognitive behavioral training lessened the need for older adults to self-impose activity restriction.  This research reveals the importance of partnering exercise with education, sensory correction, environmental adaptation, and addressing the psychological fears and factors that impair balance confidence as a holistic and integrative treatment plan for fall prevention.

Team University of Dayton Engineering & Safety Lab No. 20: Winter Fall Prevention

8 Winter Fall Prevention Tips (January)

 All the snow and ice we get here in Dayton can make for some dangerous conditions.  We have some tips to keep your feet under you this winter.

1.  Check your footwear.  Do your shoes have good traction?  Rubber stays grippy in cold weather while other materials become harder and more slippery. 

2.  Keep your shovel and salt inside. If you have to walk on an icy walkway to get to your shovel and salt, they aren’t helping you. 

3.  Bring a cell phone.  If you fall, it can sometimes be hard to get up.  A cell phone can bring peace of mind.

4.  Take it slow.  Hurrying challenges your body’s balance just as much as ice. 

5.  Check the railings.  Make sure your railings  are sturdy.  If you slipped, could they support you?

6.  Ask for help.  If you have to walk across an icy parking lot or sidewalk, don’t be afraid to ask for a steady arm to lean on. 

 7.  Have a plan.  When you’re going out ask yourself, “If I slipped and fell here, what would I do?”

8.  Strengthen your legs.  Strong leg muscles can help you steady yourself if you slip.  And if you do fall, they make it a lot easier to get back up.  When used together, these simple things can make this winter a little less daunting.               

Team University of Dayton Engineering & Safety Lab No. 13: Try Swimming This Summer!

Exercising three times a week is a widely recognized method for improving health, but the type of exercise performed can greatly affect what aspects of your health are improved. Recently researchers have compared different aerobic activities such as jogging and swimming to determine what types of exercise can help improve balance and hand eye coordination and to what extent.


It has been found by H. -C. Hsu and his lab that swimming three times a day can significantly improve balance and reaction time due to improved hand eye coordination. The study was carried out with two groups of people all between the ages of 60 and 75. Both groups exercised regularly three times a week, but while one group swam for their exercise, the other performed activities such as jogging and rock climbing. The evaluators were blind to the type of exercise each participant had been performing.

This finding is extremely accommodating to the members of the population that are frail or have joint problems because swimming, unlike most other physical activities, does not put any significant pressure on the joints and bones of the human body. The best way to start exercising by swimming would be to practice until you can swim for ten minutes at a time, and then swim 500 yards, or thirty minutes, three times a week for an extended period of time alternating non-exercising and exercising days.

Team University of Dayton Engineering & Safety Lab No. 12: The Astronaut Who Works to Prevent Falls!

Dr. Sienko's prototype- a vibrotactile feedback device for improving balance!


Kathleen Sienko is a researcher at the University of Michigan who specializes in technology to stabilize both elderly people and post-flight astronauts. Her current project uses a cell phone to provide vibrational cues to a person when he or she begins to lose balance.

What inspired you to choose this field? I am passionate about space exploration, and after working on a balance-related study that employed individuals with vestibular deficits as analogs for astronauts returning from long-duration spaceflight, I came to appreciate the daily challenges associated with inner ear disease and was inspired to pursue research that would have a positive impact on the quality of life for persons with balance deficits.

What are the benefits of your research? My research focuses on the design and assessment of devices for improving balance and the development of low-cost, easy-to-use technologies to benefit global health.

What about your field would most surprise people? The amount of travel. During the past year, work has taken me to Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Morgantown, Geneva, Copenhagen, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Kumasi, Reykjavik, Bangkok and New Delhi.

Gonzales, Cecile. "Astronauts and the Elderly Share Balance Issues." ScienceLives 26 Aug 2010. www.livescience.com/11167-astronauts-elderly-share-balance-issues.html

Team University of Dayton Engineering & Safety Lab No. 8: 8 Winter Fall Prevention Tips!

For help keeping your walkways safe, call up a local snow removal service

All the snow and ice we get here in Dayton can make for some dangerous conditions. We have some tips to keep your feet under you this winter.

1. 
   Check your footwear. Do your shoes have good traction? Rubber stays grippy in cold weather while other materials become harder and more slippery.
2. 
   Keep your shovel and salt inside. If you have to walk on an icy walkway to get to your shovel and salt, they aren’t helping you.
3. 
   
   Bring a cell phone. If you fall, it can sometimes be hard to get up. A cell phone can bring peace of mind.
4. 
   
   Take it slow. Hurrying challenges your body’s balance just as much as ice.
5. 
   
   Check the railings. Make sure your railings are sturdy. If you slipped, could they support you?
6. 
   
   Ask for help. If you have to walk across an icy parking lot or sidewalk, don’t be afraid to ask for a steady arm to lean on.
7. 
   
   Have a plan. When you’re going out ask yourself, “If I slipped and fell here, what would I do?”
8. 
   
   Strengthen your legs. Strong leg muscles can help you steady yourself if you slip. And if you do fall, they make it a lot easier to get back up.

When used together, these simple things can make this winter little less daunting-Erin Sutton

Team:University of Dayton Engineering Wellness & Safety Lab No 2: Prevent Falls at Home

There are many hazards throughout any household that can increase the risk of falling, which can lead to serious injuries. We have some helpful tips to keep you standing tall.

Check all floors throughout your home. Make sure that all pathways in your home aren’t being obstructed by furniture, small objects, or cords. Also secure any rugs that might cause you to slip.

Clear stairways around the entire house. All steps should be well lit and be cleared of objects such as shoes or books. Keep the stairs and railings in good condition.

Keep the kitchen tidy and organized. Organize your kitchen so that regularly used items aren’t on high shelves. If objects are out of reach use something sturdy, like a step ladder, that has a handle to hold on to.

Check all bathrooms. Use a rubber mat to cover any slippery surfaces like the tub or floor. Also, have someone install a railing to grab onto when getting into or out of the bathtub.

Keep bedrooms lit. Have a light near your bed that is easy to reach. Also, make sure the pathway from your bed to the bathroom is well lit by a night light.

Other tips. Prevent falling by increasing your strength which can be done through regularly exercising. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if you are on any medications that can cause dizziness. Have your vision checked regularly. Also, wear shoes both outside and inside your house. Rachael Johanek