A PROFESSOR from the University of Santo Tomas placed third in the research poster contest of the Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium.

The winning entry was submitted by Prof. Donald Lipardo of the Department of Physical Therapy with his co-author Prof. William W.N. William Tsang of the Department of Physiotherapy of the Open University of Hong Kong was entitled “Physiological and physical risks of falling in community-dwelling older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment: A cross-sectional study”.

“Intending to delve into the difference between the likelihood of falls between older adults with mild cognitive impairment and those without, the study recruited 230 community-dwelling Manila senior citizens who were subjected to a battery of tests, including the Physiological Profile Assessment (to examine physiological fall risk), Timed-Up and Go Test (to assess dynamic balance and functional mobility), and the 10-Meter Walk Test (to measure gait speed),” Lipardo explained.

“The study confirmed that those with mild cognitive impairment were at higher risk of falls based on physiological profile compared to those without,” he added.

The presentation took place on October 21, 2020 as part of the MMHRDC’s Annual Scientific Conference.

MMHRDC was founded on February 19, 2019, with the aim of strengthening the system of collaboration among health research institutions in Metro Manila. It also seeks to develop and enhance the research capacity of institutions in the National Capital Region.