Balance and Cognition Fall Intervention Application

Project goal: To design and test a smartphone application to make balance exercises easily accessible, to help improve balance in adults 60 or older by providing evidence-based motor-cognitive dual-task exercises.Age-related poor balance results from diminished neuromuscular feedback, and often leads to an increased risk of falling. Studies show that motor-cognitivedual-task performance exercises can enhance proprioception and neuromuscular control, which improve balance and gait speed and reduce the risk of falling in older adults.A simple and age-appropriate smartphone application was developed in accordance with the requirements of Android and iOS mobile operating systems. The design includes a goal-configurable instructional audio feature that guides users through their exercises, and a system of motivational notifications, goals and progress tracking to keep users engaged at a level of practice with which they are comfortable.