Activity and Aging News
New study shows no pain, no gain for knee osteoarthritis
December 10, 2020
A research study out of the Wolf Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory and led by Physical Therapy professor Trevor Birmingham has found that with the right exercise, working through the initial pain of osteoarthritis can be beneficial.
Health Studies professor appointed to COVID-19 Task Force
December 07, 2020
School of Health Studies professor Maxwell Smith has been appointed to the Government of Ontario’s Ministers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force. The task force will oversee the delivery, storage and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
Buddies and stepped-up rewards add exercise incentive
November 30, 2020
It can take just pennies a day to motivate people to exercise more, and they will step up their efforts when teamed with a buddy to collect joint rewards, a Western University study shows.
Students design lip-reading masks to help community members with hearing impairment
July 16, 2020
Health Sciences MClSc/PhD students Taylor Bardell and Matthew Urichuk have designed a mask that helps community members community with people who rely on lip-reading.
Online seniors’ fitness classes rock
May 21, 2020
When COVID-19 hit, and the province closed classes like Anne Cooke’s Stay Fit seniors’ fitness class to enforce social distancing, she went virtual to continue providing exercise opportunities for her 120 students. The free online classes are currently attracting approximately 30 participants per session.
Support for participants and members during coronavirus
April 09, 2020
As we recently shifted the CCAA’s operations to a virtual model, we have made some adjustments to our community programs as well as our leadership training processes and requirements to accommodate these changes. We also launched a series of Active at Home videos to help keep older adults moving safely while practicing physical distancing.
CCAA COVID-19 Information
March 12, 2020
UPDATED: March 24, 2020 (1:30 p.m.) - As new information is available regarding COVID-19 and its impact on the CCAA, it will be posted here. This information is specific to the CCAA and is intended to supplement Western's official advisories regarding COVID-19.
Rewards apps get Canadians moving
March 03, 2020
Recent Western-led research has shown that the use of commercial apps providing small but immediate financial incentives can help people increase their activity levels over the long term, and decrease the number of Canadians classified as physically inactive.
Improving front-line care for Canadians living with dementia
February 25, 2020
Be EPIC, a research program led by Health Studies professor Marie Savundrayanagam and funded by the Future Skills Centre (FSC), is helping Personal Support Workers provide enhanced care to the increasing number of Canadians living with dementia.
Funding advances development of innovative assessment software
February 13, 2020
The CCAA was recently awarded $49,999 from the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (C-CABHI) SPARK Program for a 1-year project to advance the development of its innovative functional fitness software database called HAroLD (Healthy Active Living Database).
Study: Exercise boosts memory like caffeine
February 10, 2020
Caffeine and exercise have been shown to separately improve certain aspects of cognition like attention and alertness, but the two energy boosters had never been compared head-to-head until Western's Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory explored the idea.
Caring for caregivers
January 14, 2020
Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's can make everyday tasks immensely challenging, which is why most people with the disease rely on informal caregivers, often family members, to help maintain their quality of living. This podcast features Lisa Moszczynski, a master's student in Health and Rehabilitation Science, who has been researching the difficulties caregivers face - feelings of invisibility, lack of agency, and inability to access support.
Senior independent living at centre of research
January 09, 2020
Seniors across Ontario may soon be building healthier lives and stronger communities right at home, thanks to the efforts of Western researchers and colleagues across the province focused on helping seniors live independently as long as possible.
