Innovating Technologies for Reducing Falls Risk in COVID-19 Healthcare Settings

One of the side effects of the COVI D-19 pandemic is that older people in institutional care tend to be more socially isolated and get less physical exercise. This is likely to increase falls risk both directly through reduced strength and balance because of insufficient exercise, and indirectly due to effects of depression leading to reduced awareness of obstacles and trip hazards in the environment. In this project we will test an innovative exercise technology (2RaceWithMe, developed by AGEWELL NCE researchers) to see if it can reduce falls risk in institutional care environments. 2RaceWithMe uses hand and foot exercise peddlers with onboard computers, engaging video courses and a large curved screen with videoconferencing (where people can cycle with each other either co-presently or remotely). Using standard measures of falls risk that are collected before, during and after the three month 2RaceWithMe intervention, we will measure the impact of 2RaceWithMe on falls risk.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mark Chignell

Student:

Bella Yigong Zhang

Partner:

HIROC

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Finance, insurance and business

University:

University of Toronto