How do older people rise from the floor independently?

Presented by the ANZFPS Early-Mid Career Researcher Sub-Committee

Presenters: Associate Professor Elissa Burton
HELD: Thursday 16th, May, 2024  Time: 12pm – 1pm AEST
Where: Zoom webinar

Associate Professor Elissa Burton provided an overview of her systematic review on whether interventions are effective in improving the ability of older adults to get up off the floor independently and the two main methods used. Elissa outlined her kinematic research that identified three main methods, with different methods used across three stages (i.e., initiation, weight transfer, transition to stand) that older adults use to get up from the floor. Finally, Elissa outlined practical considerations of therapeutic/exercise interventions targeting capacity to independently get up from the floor.

Elissa is an Accredited Sport Scientist (Level 2) and an Associate Professor at Curtin University in Western Australia. Elissa’s research focuses on helping older adults to live independently at home for as long as they choose, through healthy living strategies. Much of Elissa’s work has been with older adults who receive home care services, reablement or restorative care, promoting physical activity, preventing falls and getting off the ground, and encouraging healthy older adults to participate more in strength and balance training. She is a current NHMRC Investigator Grant holder and a Fellow of the Australasian Association of Gerontology (AAG).