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Friday, Fri, 25 AprilApr 2025
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Had a fall? There’s an app for that

Mosgiel Ready and Steady exercise group member Beverley McKirdy of Mosgiel shows fellow members...
Mosgiel Ready and Steady exercise group member Beverley McKirdy of Mosgiel shows fellow members Lorraine Drew (left), of Mosgiel and Beverly Ross (right), of Dunedin, the Nymbl balance and mobility training programme. PHOTOS: LINDA ROBERTSON
Members of the public have been given the opportunity to try out a new app that could prevent potentially fatal falls.

ACC-funded app Nymbl is an evidence-based training programme for older adults to improve their balance and mobility from the comfort and safety of their own home.

The WellSouth Falls and Fracture prevention team held an event at Dunedin Public Library yesterday to mark the release of the app.

WellSouth falls and fracture prevention co-ordinator Nicole Hogg said the event was part of their annual campaign "April Falls" across Otago and Southland to raise awareness about the impact of falls and promote the latest fall prevention strategies.

"The whole process has been quite exciting and a whole lot of work and team effort has gone into it."

"It all felt like it was worth it to engage with the people who came today," Miss Hogg said.

Research showed many falls happened when a person was distracted.

WellSouth falls and fracture prevention co-ordinator Nicole Hogg displays the Nymbl balance and...
WellSouth falls and fracture prevention co-ordinator Nicole Hogg displays the Nymbl balance and mobility training programme at Dunedin Public Library yesterday.
The app paired cognitive challenges with simple body movements to train the user’s body and mind simultaneously, to reduce fall risks.

The app was accessible, intuitive and engaging, as it targeted the dual-tasking region of the brain.

It custom-tailored the experience to each user through a series of questions related to health and mobility.

She said the app could be adopted into a daily routine quite easily and all it took was five minutes a day.

Mosgiel Ready and Steady exercise group co-ordinator Lewis McKirdy was pleased with the app.

"I think it has worked really good from what I’ve seen so far," he said.

The app featured similar movements to those they practised at their weekly exercise sessions.

Group member Beverly Ross said the way the app linked users’ brains to their feet was a "different approach" to other fall prevention programmes.

"I’ve fallen in the past. At my age it certainly wouldn’t hurt to try it."

A similar event is to be held in Alexandra today.

tim.scott@odt.co.nz

 

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