Using technology to create personalized exercise plans to prevent falls in older adults.
Official title: electronic Strategies for Tailored Exercise to Prevent FallS (eSTEPS).
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10911917 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a helpful app that gives older adults personalized exercise plans to lower their chances of falling, especially for those in rural areas who might not have easy access to resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $475,400 |
| NIH project number | 5R33AG068926-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911917 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those living in rural areas, who are at risk of falling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of falls or those who are younger than 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an electronic system that tailors exercise recommendations to help older adults reduce their risk of falls. By utilizing a smartphone app and clinical decision support systems, the project aims to identify individuals at risk and provide them with personalized exercise programs. The app will be integrated with electronic health records to ensure that healthcare providers can easily refer patients to appropriate fall-prevention exercises. The goal is to improve participation in these programs, especially among older adults living in rural areas who may have limited access to resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of falls among older adults, leading to improved safety and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that tailored exercise programs can effectively reduce fall risk, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dykes, Patricia C — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dykes, Patricia C
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.