April 2016 Participants Required for Ongoing Study on the Efficacy of Pilates in Falls Prevention

NUI Galway is recruiting additional participants for a study on the efficacy of Pilates in falls prevention in healthy older adults over 65 years old. The outcomes assessed will include questionnaires and tests of physical activity, balance, foot pressure, mobility, gait, cognition and falls.

One hour classes will take place in Áras Moyola twice weekly for six weeks. There will be a total of 12 sessions for each group. The participants are advised to wear comfortable clothes for exercises and to bring their own exercise mat.    

Conducting the study is Larissa Donatoni da Silva, an NUI Galway PhD Health Science, physiotherapist and Pilates instructor. Larissa said: “Pilates is a technique to improve flexibility, core and coordination. The exercises will start from basic to intermediate level. We want to measure your level of function with questionnaires and tests so that we can compare it with people who are not practising Pilates.”

For more detail or to participate in the study contact Larissa Donatoni da Silva at 089 4592533 or laridonatoni@gmail.com.

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