Innovative exercise program in the spotlight on World Physio Day

Focused on maintaining her leg strength to keep cooking and entertaining family and friends, Glenyce said TreEdEx had helped improve her overall fitness.

“I’m finding I don’t reach for it (the walker) as much as I used to,” Glenyce said.

“I’m more confident walking around here, walking up to the shops and walking around the shops – that confidence that was starting to disappear has come back again.”

The project uses a “train the trainer” model designed and delivered by the UWA research team, supported by two dedicated Juniper Falls Champions, to sustainably share training with Juniper Home Care staff.

Trained Juniper Therapy Assistants and Community Support Workers then deliver a tailored falls prevention to customers across 12 weeks.

Juniper’s Falls Champions, Physiotherapy Lead Bernie Wong and Physiotherapist Nick Archibald continue to work closely with UWA to deliver the program.

“About 30 Juniper customers are now taking part and the feedback we have received has been very encouraging,” Bernie said.

About 60 Juniper Home Care customers have already expressed interest to participate in the TrEdEx program. Since the project started, the UWA research team, together with Juniper’s Falls Champions, have gone on to train 13 Juniper Physiotherapists who are now delivering the program to a growing number of Juniper customers.

The annual World Physiotherapy Day has celebrated the work that physiotherapists do for their patients and communities across the globe since 1996.