With accidental falls the major cause of injury leading to death in Australia, could the Japanese martial art, Judo, hold the key to preventing hospital admissions?
About 50 elderly South Australians are hospitalised every day because of a fall, but Dr Agathe Daria Jadczak hopes teaching older adults to fall safely through judo could prevent a trip to hospital.
Dr Jadczak collaborated with Adelaide University Judo Club coaches Meera Verma and Michael Headland to develop a pilot, eight-week judo-based exercise program which was completed in 2021.
Now, thanks to funding from The Hospital Research Foundation Group, the Dynamic Balance for Life program has been expanded to a wider cohort and the team are calling for participants to take part.
“We’re looking for around 40 adults aged 65 years and above to participate in this program where they learn how to land safely from a fall,” she said.
“Besides safe landing skills, we’re also looking at outcomes like physical function, balance, strength, fear of falling and quality of life, so we’re actually closing the gap between falls prevention and how to come up from the ground.”
Knowing how to properly receive a throwing technique so the player can avoid injury is a key pillar of judo, with safe landing techniques focused on protecting the head, neck, shoulders, and hips.
And while researchers across the globe are developing judo programs for the elderly, this project is the only one of its kind in Australia.
It also has the added component of up-skilling allied health professionals to help lead the sessions, with the aim to include the program within clinical practice.
Adelaide University Judo Club coach Meera Verma and Dr Agathe Daria Jadczak.
Among the first participants this year was Christine Alger, who had a fall in the kitchen of her Salisbury East home just before Christmas last year.
She said the program is so good she’s been recommending it to everyone.
“I realized the other day when I was doing stuff and moving around in my kitchen that my feet were doing exactly what I was taught to do here and I was feeling very steady,” she said.
“So, it’s very beneficial, I highly recommend it.”
Dr Jadczak and the team are still looking for participants, as well as allied health professionals, to take part, with a second trial starting in September and further trials being conducted early 2025.
If you’re 65 and above or an allied health professional interested in taking part, contact Dr Jadczak via [email protected] or 08 8133 4012.
We look forward to keeping you updated!
