Sport Science
Dr. Michaela Weber - Sport Science M.A.
Network Aging Research
Bergheimer Straße 20
D-69115 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 (0)6221 54 8132
weber(at)nar.uni-heidelberg.de
Fellows: Dr. Michael Schwenk
Integrating sport and movement into daily life: development and evaluation of a new intervention concept for older people
With increasing age, the physical performance, i.e. muscle strength, balance and flexibility decreases. As a consequence, the risk for impairments in regards to activities of daily living, e.g. walking longer distances, transportation within the community, and adverse health events such as falls, increases. Exercise training can improve physical performance in older adults, prevent mobility limitations and slow-down age-related functional decline. However, it is really important to stay in motion and to exercise regularly in order to remain active or achieve long-term improvement in posture and movement respectively.
The aim of my thesis is to develop and evaluate of a new intervention concept for older people slowing down age-related and disease-associated decline in physical and cognitive performance. I will focus on a new lifestyle integrated functional exercise (LiFE) approach, developed by the University of Sydney. This is a different approach as compared to performing a structured exercise program given the purpose of incorporating functional exercises or physical activities within everyday activities, without needing to spend formal exercise time, e.g. exercising while brushing teeth, doing the laundry or watching TV.
So far, the LiFE concept was rarely used in Germany and originally developed for older people aged 75 years and older. The objective now is to further develop the program within a European research project (PreventIT) in order to address young-old adults (60-70 years). Transferring the LiFE concept to an ICT-platform also targets to increase effectiveness and make exercising more enjoyable.
Awards and Scholarships
- 2016 Scholarship of the Klaus-Tschira Foundation for a doctorate at the Network of Aging Research (NAR), Heidelberg University
Publications
Vita
| since 02/2016 | Member of the NAR-College, Heidelberg University |
| 2015 - 2016 | Research associate, Institute of Sociology and Gender Studies, German Sport University Cologne |
| 2014 - 2015 | Research assistant, Institute of Sociology and Gender Studies, German Sport University Cologne |
| 2013 - 2015 | Master (M.A.) in Sport and Movement Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne |
| 2011 - 2012 |
Student assistant, Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Heidelberg University |
| 2010 - 2013 | Bachelor (B.A.) in Sociology with a minor in business administration, Mannheim University |
