Project overview
Falls are common among people with Parkinson's, most happen during activity (e.g. when turning round) and over time people with Parkinson's reduce their activity levels (in particular, exercise and leisure activities). We do not fully understand the relationship between falls and activity but this project will explore some outstanding questions and guide future research on promoting activity for people with Parkinson's without increasing their risk of falling. We know about Activity-Related Falls (AR-Falls) at home but need to know more about what happens in other settings so we will survey people with Parkinson's who have recently fallen to learn more about the circumstances surrounding falls in unfamiliar settings. The results will help us identify participants for two smaller studies. In one, we will apply skills we developed analysing turning and reaching to analyse three more activities commonly associated with falls in Parkinson's: tripping, stepping backwards and misjudging distances. In the other, we will interview people with Parkinson's about when and why they gave up activities that they previously enjoyed (e.g. swimming). In summary, we will discover how certain activities challenge balance and mobility in Parkinson's and to what extent physical ability and/or other factors deter people with Parkinson's from activity and exercise. We will try to uncover new ways of communicating information about a) making moving through an environment safer and b) making beneficial active leisure more accessible to people with Parkinson's to the people who most need to know it (including people with Parkinson's, carers, healthcare professionals, local authorities and private care and leisure providers).