Holsworth Research Initiative

Our research focusses on exercise, physical activity and rehabilitation.

Research News

Safe exercise for people with limited mobility

Professor Michael Kingsley’s research focuses on how exercise, nutrition and lifestyle interventions can improve heart health and metabolism in athletes and patients with chronic disease. His worked has received funding from the NHMRC, the Welsh Assembly Government, Diabetes UK, the Renal Society, High-five, Australia Post and AFL Victoria. He has also worked with elite sports teams including the Welsh Rugby Union, Swansea City Football Club, Ospreys Rugby Football Club, Swansea Rugby Football Club, Spirit WNBL, Aberavon Rugby Football Club, and the Pioneers.

Along with Professor Damminda Alahakoon in the La Trobe Business School, Accounting and Data Analytics department, and Dr Rebeca Meiring from the University of Auckland, Professor Michael Kingsley is using support from the Holsworth Research Initiative in the La Trobe Rural Health School to develop a machine learning model to remotely monitor patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis. This work aims to enable people living with these conditions to safely increase their physical activity and improve their lives.

Volunteers needed for study

The research team will collect data from study participants who wear accelerometers, small electronic sensors that can measure intensity of activity.

To get more data, the team will recruit volunteers from Auckland and Bendigo who have lower limb osteoarthritis and are waiting for joint replacement surgery.

Help for people living with chronic disease

Professor Kingsley says:

We will use this project to show that our model works. Then we will improve the model so we can assist people who live with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cardiac conditions, and multiple sclerosis.

Being able to monitor patients more effectively will inform evidence-based guidelines to fill gaps in the current Australian and New Zealand physical activity guidelines and better support people living with limited mobility to improve their quality of life.

We look forward to providing regular updates on this project.