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At IPAN, we research human health. Some of our studies require real, every-day people to take part.

We run a variety of both long and short-term studies. Some may require participants who meet certain criteria such as age, gender, health status or live in a particular postcode.

Would you be interested? You may be asked to undergo clinical tests, follow diets or exercise programs, fill in surveys or trial tools and resources.

We’re currently seeking participants in the following studies:

  • The Veg4Me Study

    Vegetable intake plays an important role in maintaining health and preventing disease. Yet only 3% of young adults living in rural areas eat the recommended 5–6 serves of vegetables each day.

    Veg4Me is a new web app to support young adults in rural areas to improve their vegetable intake.

    This study aims to test how the Veg4Me web app performs in the real world, by asking people to use it for 12 weeks.

    Who can participate?
    We are seeking participates who:

    • are aged 18–35 years
    • live in Colac Otway Shire, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges or Mount Alexander
    • eat less than 5 serves of vegetables daily
    • have access to a device with internet connection
    • use English as their primary language spoken at home
    • are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
    • are not currently participating in another research intervention trial involving a behaviour change intervention

     What is involved?

    • a brief online “baseline” survey (~10mins) about yourself, lifestyle, typical dietary choices, and mobile device use
    • usage of the Veg4Me web app for 12 weeks during which we will measure your engagement with it in the background (e.g. how often and when you log in, and the sections of the web application you typically visit); you may also receive e-newsletters and other reminders to engage with the web app during this period
    • an online “follow-up” survey (~20mins) covering some of the same questions at sign-up, as well as questions about the web app’s acceptability and ease-of-use, and any additional features you would like to see in an app to encourage you to increase your vegetable intake

    Participants who complete both the baseline and follow-up online surveys, as well as engaging with the web application for 12 weeks, will receive a $75 eGift card.

    Optional extra

    • when registering, you may opt to be invited to undertake a short Zoom interview (~20–30mins) with a member of the research team about your experience with the web app once you have used it for 12 weeks and completed the follow-up survey; participants participating in a short Zoom interview will also receive a $20 eGift card following completion of their interview

    Interested?

    Please visit https://veg4me.deakin.edu.au for further information or to register.

    Questions?

    For further information, please contact the Veg4Me Study research team on veg4me@deakin.edu.au.

  • The Female Lifespan study

    About the Female Lifespan study

    We know that females and males age differently. But there is a lot we don’t know about the specifics of muscle ageing in females.

    In fact, nearly everything we know about muscle ageing is through studies conducted on males. This is because there has historically been a lack of research on female muscle.

    This research study aims to fill this knowledge gap by mapping the process of female muscle ageing across the lifespan, for a better understanding of the different factors (e.g. hormonal, functional, molecular) at play.

    We’re aiming to recruit 96 females aged 18-80 years and test their hormone levels, body composition, bone density, muscle strength and muscle function.

    Researchers will also collect a tiny piece of muscle from the thigh for lab analysis to understand which genes are important in the female muscle ageing process. This will allow a map of female muscle ageing across each decade of age, something that has never been done before.

    This study has received ethical clearance from the Deakin University Human Research Committee (DUHREC 2021-307).

    What participants are required to do

    We’re seeking participants who can visit our laboratory at Deakin University (Burwood campus) on three occasions over a period of 2-4 weeks: visit 1 (2.5 hours), visit 2 (2.5 hours) and visit 3 (an hour), which will be organised at the participant’s convenience. These visits include an assessment of muscle size, strength and function, body composition, bone density, and the collection of a tiny piece of muscle from the thigh.

    Benefits of participating in this study

    Each participant will receive a $100 voucher at the completion of the study. They will also receive a report detailing their body composition, bone density and muscle size.

    Requirements for participants

    Any biological female (defined as someone who was born with two X chromosomes) aged between 18-80years may be eligible to participate, unless they have a neurological disorder, cancer, or are in remission from cancer.

    Interested? Click  here  for more information or to sign up.

    Project manager: Briana Gatto (briana.gatto@deakin.edu.au)

    Principal investigators: Dr Danielle Hiam (danielle.hiam@deakin.edu.au) and A/Prof. Severine Lamon (severine.lamon@deakin.edu.au)

     

  • Eating in context study

    The study aims to understand the ways through which individual and everyday factors affect food choices at different eating occasions, and how this impacts health.

    Participants must be:

    • Aged between 18 and 64 years
    • Living in Victoria, Australia
    • Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
    • Own a smartphone, desktop computer, laptop, or tablet with internet access
    • Can communicate confidently in English (e.g. speak, read, and write English)

    Participation involves:

    • Completing an online survey.
    • Visit to a research clinic at Deakin University, Burwood Campus to measure your height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure.
    • Wearing a physical activity monitor, use of a wearable camera, completion of three online 24-hour food recalls and a fasting blood sample collection at your local clinic during the week following your clinic visit.

    Upon completion of all components, participants will be given a $30 shopping voucher for their participation.

    For more information or to register, click here. 

    Eating in Context Study Contact Details

    Phone: 03 9246 8324

    Email: eatingincontext@deakin.edu.au

    This study has received Deakin University ethics approval (reference number: 2021-267)

  • Whole-body vibration platforms to improve blood flow and blood sugar

    This research will determine if standing on vibration platforms improves leg blood flow and blood sugar to help people with blood flow abnormalities or risk of diabetes.

    We are interested in people from the general population with and without diabetes.

    We are looking for people who:

    • Have a body mass index (BMI) over 27 (calculate your BMI here)
    • Do not smoke and have no history of heart attack or stroke

    What is required:
    This study requires participants to visit Deakin’s Burwood campus on two occasions, for about 3 hours each time, plus an introduction meeting (1 hr).

    The following tests will be conducted:

    • Intermittent standing on a vibration platform (3 min bouts)
    • Ultrasound assessment of blood vessel health
    • Measurement of blood sugar levels after a sugar drink

    For more information or to express interest in participating in this study, please contact Emily Wordie-Thompson ewordiet@deakin.edu.au  or Dr Andrew Betik : Andrew.Betik@deakin.edu.au

     

  • Can antioxidants improve blood flow and metabolism of high sugar drinks?

    IPAN researchers are investigating whether antioxidant treatment can improve blood flow and metabolism of a high-sugar drink in healthy adults.

    If you are interested and can attend two testing sessions at Deakin University, Burwood campus, contact lewan.parker@deakin.edu.au

  • Do you have type 2 diabetes? Our mobile app could help you Sit Less and Move More.

    The purpose of this study is to determine whether a behaviour change intervention using the iMove app reduces sitting time and increases standing and walking time for adults with type 2 diabetes in Australia.

    You can join this study if you:

    • Have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
    • Own an android mobile phone
    • Are aged 35 to 65 years
    • Can engage in light activities (e.g. walking)
    • Can communicate easily in English

    For this study, you will be asked to use an android mobile app and a rechargeable activity tracker for 42 days. You will receive motivational messages every day to help reduce your sitting time and encourage you to walk more.

    Participants who complete the trial will receive a $40 gift card.

    For more information or to register, click here.

    Contact: Reza Daryabeygi | reza.d@deakin.edu.au | phone: +61 392445936

     

  • INfant Feeding, Active play and NuTrition (INFANT) program and My Baby Now app

    INFANT and the My Baby Now app have been designed to help parents and families with healthy eating and active play from the start of their baby’s life.

    INFANT researchers at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) are looking for families to help evaluate the INFANT program (sessions and/or app, called My Baby Now). This evaluation will be used to enhance the usefulness of support available to parents/ caregivers regarding the health of their baby.

    Who can be involved:

    • first time parent with a baby younger than 4 months old
    • baby born at 37 or more weeks gestation
    • parent at least 18 years old
    • parent living in Victoria
    • Interested in being contacted about the evaluation surveys at 12 and 18 months.

    What is involved?

    • Sign-up to the free My Baby Now App and opt to participate in the evaluation.
    • Parents and caregivers living in local government areas providing the INFANT program may be invited to attend INFANT group sessions when their baby is around 3, 6, 9 and 12 months old.
    • Parents and caregivers who opted to participate in the evaluation will be invited to complete 2 online surveys, one when their child is around 12 months old and another when their child is 18 months old.
    • Each survey will take around 20-30 minutes to complete and will ask about infant feeding, activities, and questions about the parent/caregiver.

     What participants will receive? Parents and caregivers will have access to up-to-date and trusted information about feeding and active play, for giving their baby the best start to life. Additionally, parents and caregivers who opt to be involved in our research will also receive a $10 grocery voucher for each completed survey at 12 and 18 months (two total) as compensation for their time.

    Interested? Sign up for the My Baby Now App

    You can also download the app from the App Store or Google Play and register for a new account.

    For further information please contact the INFANT research team at infant-study@deakin.edu.au

  • BIG ED study | Effect of evidence-based clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain in primary care: a 12-week follow- up study

    THE PROBLEM | Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects approximately four million Australians (16% of the population). Low back pain is the seventh most common reason for attending the emergency department in Australia with  more than 130,000 presentations per year.

    WHAT WE KNOW | The management of low back pain shortly after onset (e.g. within the emergency department) can predict long-term patient (e.g. pain intensity and disability) and societal outcomes (e.g. financial costs to the healthcare system).

    WHAT WE DON’T KNOW | Does evidence-based clinical guideline adherence for the management of low back pain impact patient and societal outcomes? Is there an association between guideline adherence and the development of chronic low back pain? Do general expectations and/or treatment-specific expectations predict changes in patient and societal outcomes?

    THE SOLUTION | We are inviting 90 adults who present with low back pain to the Box Hill Hospital emergency department to participate in a 12-week cohort study. Participants will be asked to complete five brief online surveys over the 12-week follow-up regarding their recovery.

    This is a collaboration between Deakin University and Eastern Health. Ethical approval was provided by Deakin University (2021-197) and Eastern Health (LR20-114-70494) Human Research Ethics Committees.

    For further information, please email Dr Patrick Owen (spine@deakin.edu.au).

  • How gender and hormones regulate vascular function in exercise and health

    Men and women have different risks for cardiovascular disease, which differ pre and post menopause. This project will determine how hormones (eg testosterone, estrogen, progesterone) affect vascular function and glucose control during exercise and after consuming a meal.

    We are looking for males and females 18-40 years of age to volunteer for this study, who also meet the following conditions:

    • Females who are not taking hormonal contraception
    • Non-smoker, no history of heart attack, stroke or diabetes
    • Not taking medications or supplements that affect blood sugar levels

    This study requires a minimum of 2 visits to the laboratory (Deakin University, Burwood), spread out over 2 months. Each visit is ~ 2.5 hours, and a $25 gift card is offered for each completed visit.

    Resting metabolic rate, blood flow through the muscles, and blood glucose measurements will be taken before and after consuming a meal, as well as during 5 min of light handgrip exercise.

    For more information, contact Dr Andrew Betik Andrew.Betik@deakin.edu.au

  • How do stomach hormones affect blood flow in your muscle?

    We are interested in understanding how high sugar drinks affect blood flow in the muscle,  via the release of stomach hormones.

    This will help us understand why sugar is not good for our cardiovascular system.

    You may be suitable for this study if you are:

    • Aged between 18-50 years old
    • Normal weight
    • Non-smoking
    • No personal history of pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease
      (e.g heart attack or stroke)
    • Have normal blood pressure

    Participation in this study involves three visits to Deakin University (Burwood Campus) research laboratory. The overall time commitment will be about nine hours spread out over the three visits.

    Participants who complete the trial will receive a $100 gift card.

    For more information, please contact: Professor Michelle Keske: michelle.keske@deakin.edu.au or (03) 9246 8850

    Katherine Roberts-Thomson: krobertsthomson@deakin.edu.au or 0408 103 982

  • Smart Homes for Heart Failure project: Seeking people living with or caring for someone with heart failure
    We want to understand how people with heart failure manage their condition for the ‘Smart Homes for Heart Failure’ project. We are particularly interested in the activities someone with heart failure carries out to manage their condition, what additional support they would like, and their use of technology. We are conducting 30-60 minute phone/Zoom interviews to help us understand these topics.
    If you are eligible to take part, we will provide detailed information about this research and ask you for your consent to participate.
    After the interview, you will be compensated for your time with a $20 supermarket voucher.
    For further information, contact Rebecca Nourse at rnourse@deakin.edu.au OR 0392443075
    For details and to register, click here.
  • How does your body composition affect blood vessel function?

    We are investigating whether exercising regularly or not affects the small blood vessels in your muscle and how your body processes sugar after a meal.

    We are interested in people with a range of body sizes and either physically active or not.

    We are looking for participants:

    • who have a body mass index (BMI) over 27, AND
    • are non-active: do less than 30 min/week of moderate intensity exercise;

    OR

    • Regular exercisers: who do more than 150 min of regular exercise/week

    All participants must also

    • Be a non-smoker, with no history of heart attack, stroke or diabetes
    • Not be taking medications or supplements that affect blood sugar levels

    This study requires two visits to the laboratory, for a total of approximately five hours. The following tests will be conducted:

    • Body composition analysis scan (DEXA);
    • VO2 max (i.e. aerobic fitness);
    • Measurement of resting metabolic rate (how many calories you burn) and if your body prefers to burn sugars or fats;
    • Ultrasound assessment of blood vessel health;
    • Venous blood sampling for blood glucose, insulin and cholesterol.

    For more information, contact
    Dr Andrew Betik at Andrew.Betik@deakin.edu.au

  • Imagined strength training in older adults

    It is well known that strength training leads to increased muscular strength but engaging in this training might not always be possible, such as during the recovery of major injuries.

    Research has shown us that imagined strength training activates the brain and leads to increases in strength that are similar to those found with physical strength training. To date, there have been few direct comparisons between the two.

    This study aims to address this gap by directly comparing the strength changes following imagined and physical strength training within older adults.

    We’re looking to recruit 36 healthy older adults aged 65 and over to test their hand strength and central nervous system functioning. Tests will involve a form of non-invasive and painless magnetic stimulation before and after a 2-week hand training program.

    We are looking for people who:

    • Have no musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that limit the voluntary movement of the hand or forearm muscles.
    • Have no history of brain related injuries or neurological conditions.
    • Have an internet connected device suitable for online video calls.

    What is required:

    Participants will be required to attend our laboratory at Deakin University for five total visits. Three of these visits will be assessment sessions (approx. 2 hours each) followed by two training sessions (approx. 20 mins each). The remaining training sessions will be held online via video conferencing platform Zoom.

    Participants will receive a $50 Coles and Myer Gift card on completion of the study.

    How do I participate?

    If you are interested in participating please register your interest here.

    For further information please contact:

    Jeffrey Lim: jeffrey.lim@deakin.edu.au

  • Can exercise training improve blood vessel health in people living with atrial fibrillation?

    Researchers from the Institute of Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University are conducting a study investigating the effect of exercise training on blood vessel health in adults living with atrial fibrillation. This research includes a free 12-week supervised exercise training program with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Additionally, researchers are comparing the blood vessel health of people with atrial fibrillation and those living without this abnormal heart rhythm.

    You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

    • Age: 40-80 years
    • Have a clinical diagnosis of atrial fibrillation that is confirmed by a physician or do not have atrial fibrillation or other health conditions
    • Not regularly exercising at moderate or vigorous intensities (≥150 minutes per week)

    This study will be conducted at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University, Burwood Campus and will involve 2x 1 hour supervised exercise sessions at Deakin University and 1x 30 minutes unsupervised exercise session per week from home for 12 weeks. Additionally, to determine the effects of the exercise training program on blood vessel health outcomes 2x 2 hour assessment days before and after the exercise programs will be conducted. The exercise program assignment is randomised and the participant will be assigned to either:

    (i) combined exercise training involving moderate-intensity interval training plus weight training; or

    (ii) a yoga and pilates based exercise program.

    Participants enrolled in this study will be provided with a Polar Heart Rate monitor which they may keep and receive a free tailored exercise program prescribed by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (valued at ~$800). Additionally, participants have the option to receive their health test results.

    For further information on this study, please contact:

    • Dr. Kim Way: kim.way@deakin.edu.au
    • Ms. Sian O’Gorman: sogorma@deakin.edu.au
  • Could krill oil supplements help people with chronic fatigue syndrome?

    Researchers seeking both healthy participants and people who have been clinically diagnosed with ME/CFS for this study.

    You may be eligible to join the study if you are:

    • Aged 18 or over
    • Either male or female
    • Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
    • Not allergic to shellfish (ME/CFS patients)

    Key points:
    • There are no costs involved for participants.
    • Surveys can be done online at participants’ own pace.
    • Participants will be required to visit Deakin University’s Burwood or Geelong campus on two occasions.
    • Home-based testing is available for participants with ME/CFS
    • The study involves 12-week supplementation, donating blood samples, grip strength and non-invasive body composition testing.

    For more information or to register your interest, phone 03 9244 6398 or email krillcfs@deakin.edu.au

  • ​Food, Move, Sleep (FOMOS) for Postnatal Mental Health​ 

    Would you like to be involved in postnatal mental health research? 

    We are looking for postnatal mothers to help test this new program.  

    FOMOS is a home-based program which supports healthy eating, physical activity and sleep using a combination of digital strategies (website, text messaging, social media) and provision of home exercise equipment. 

     You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria: 

    • mother with a child between two and 12 months old; 
    • living in selected postcodes from VIC, NSW or SA; 
    • experiencing some postnatal depression (PND) symptoms; 
    • able to communicate fluently in English; 
    • have or are willing to create an Instagram account. 

    What’s involved? 

    • You will be randomised to an intervention or control group (which receives part of the intervention after data is collected). 
    • You may receive free access to home exercise equipment and a range of digital resources and support for six-months. 
    • You will wear an activity monitor on your wrist for one-week at three time points and complete four online surveys, spread out over the duration of the intervention and follow up. 

    What are the benefits of joining this study? 

    • Access to evidence-based resources to support healthy eating, physical activity and sleep in the postnatal period. 
    • Potential to have free access to home exercise equipment in your home for three-months. 
    • $20 gift card at 3 assessment points.

    For more information, contact the study coordinator:                    

    Elysha Chua | fomos@deakin.edu.au | Ph: +61 3 9246 8448​     ​ 

     

    If interested, complete our screening survey via this link  

  • Could eating peanut butter each day improve the physical and cognitive capacity of older adults?

    The world population is ageing. Meeting nutritional needs become challenging in older age. Older adults who do not have adequate nutritional intake, are more likely to have falls, faster decline in physical and brain function and have trouble doing daily activities independently. So, we need simple and practical strategies to improve the diets of older adults.

    Nuts are a great source of energy, protein, and healthy fats. Peanuts, and particularly peanut butter is well accepted by older adults as they are widely available, affordable, and easy to consume even for those having issues with dentition. Older adults who eat nuts and nut products as part of a healthy diets are shown to have better heart health, brain function and overall health.

    In this research we aim to identify if supplementing the diets of older adults with 100% natural peanut butter for 6 months, can improve their functional capacity, including physical and brain functions.

    We aim to recruit 120 older adults (aged 65 years or above) who are at risk of functional decline. This study has received ethical clearance from the Deakin University Human Research Committee (DUHREC 2022-279).

    What participants are required to do?

    Participants will be asked to visit Deakin University (Burwood campus) on two occasions 6 months apart: each visit will take around 2 hours and we will try our best to organise them at the participant’s convenience. During these visits we will assess participants’ body composition (using a full body X-Ray scan), muscle strength, physical function, and brain function. We will also collect a cell sample by asking the participants to do a cheek swab which we will use to measure how old their biological tissues are. In the first visit, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups where one group has to consume 3-4 tablespoons of peanut butter every day for 6 months and the other group does not have do any changes to their usual diet and lifestyle.

    Benefits to participants?

    Participants will receive a free assessment of their muscle mass, physical and brain function, and dietary intake. Each participant will also receive a $150 voucher at the completion of the study.

    Who can participate?

    Males and females aged 65 years or above may be eligible to participate.

    Please click here to take our survey to check your eligibility.

    Or email us for more details (NutStudy@deakin.edu.au)

    Project manager: Jeew Hettiarachchi (jeew.h@deakin.edu.au)

    Principal investigator: Dr. Sze Yen Tan

    Associate investigators: Prof. Robin Daly, Dr. Elena George, Dr. Ekavi Georgousopoulou, Assoc Prof. David Scott, Dr Brenton Baguley, Jeew Hettiarachchi, Ilili Feyesa

  • Could a Voice Assistant be used to support older adults with dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment?

    New developments in voice-assistant technology show promise in helping people with dementia maintain skills, confidence and independence to maximise quality of life.

    Using voice assistants (such as Amazon Alexa devices) can also increase access to support strategies at home, overcoming common barriers such as lack of access to health professionals, travel, cost and time.

    Our researchers are investigating whether an Amazon Alexa Show 8 is an effective way to deliver a 12-week personalised program to support older adults with dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment.

    Who can participate?

    Adults aged between 60 to 85 years with a recent diagnosis (less than 6 months) of dementia and/or mild cognitive impairment.

    What participants are required to do?

    Prior to commencing the program, and after 12-weeks, all participants will be required to complete an online survey answering questions about their health, cognition, function, and/or activities of daily living. Participants will then be randomly allocated to one of two groups where one group will receive a 12-week personalised program, delivered by an Amazon Alexa device, and the other group will receive an email once a week with information about memory and cognition.

    Participants allocated to the Alexa group will receive a pre-registered Amazon Alexa Show device delivered to their home with instructions for connecting the device to Wi-Fi (which always needs to be left switched on). The device will broadcast information and instructions based on two personally meaningful goals developed with a psychologist via videoconferencing.  Participants will be asked to regularly interact with the device to receive information and reminders.  Participants will in this group will be asked to complete additional assessments, including an interview and questionnaires, to tell us about their experience using the device.

    Benefits to participants?

    Participants allocated to the Alexa group will receive an Amazon Show 8 which can be kept after the study is complete.  Control participants will receive an Amazon Show 8 at the end of the 12 weeks.

    Please click HERE to take our survey to check your eligibility or email us for more details:

    Project Coordinator:  Tracy Yiannis tyiannis@deakin.edu.au

    Principal Investigator: Dr Paul Jansons paul.jansons@deakin.edu.au

     

    This study has received ethical clearance from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (DUHREC 2022-043).

  • Exploring nutrition in Australian Long Day Care centres 

    We need your help to understand how we can improve children’s dietary habits. 

    We’re aiming to find effective ways to support nutrition in Long Day Care centres – improving nutrition and creating healthier eating habits for children in care.  

    You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:  

    • Currently employed in Australia in some form of childcare that supervises children between the ages of 0 to 5 years (i.e. Long Day Care/Kindergarten). 
    • For example: educator, supervisor, cook or director. 
    • Can read English. 

     What’s Involved? 

    • You will be asked to fill out an online survey which will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete (depending on the level of detail you provide).  
    • Participants have the option to show further interest in a follow up, one-off, Zoom interview to discuss some of your answers in more detail however this interview is optional. 

    What are the benefits of joining this study?  

    • Participants who complete the survey will be reimbursed for their time with a $50 Coles eGiftCard.  

    For more information: 

    Please contact the researcher team if you have any questions at ldcstudy@deakin.edu.au or contact the Principal Researcher (Dr Penny Love) by phone on +61 3 5227 8484. 

    This study has received ethics approval from Deakin University: HEAG-H 34_2023 

     

  • Are you worried about muscle weakness? Participate in research measuring muscle activity in older adults.

    Older adults experience a gradual reduction in muscle mass, strength and function as part of the ageing process. When these losses in mass, strength and function are accelerated, this is collectively termed sarcopenia and may be linked with several chronic diseases. Dysfunction in the nerves that connect our brain to our muscles contribute to the reduced strength and physical function observed during ageing. However, we do not know if individuals with exacerbated physical function and strength losses (i.e., sarcopenic) present further impairments in their muscle nerve properties.

    This study aims to investigate if individuals with accelerated losses in muscle mass, strength, and function have reduced function of the nerves connecting the brain to the muscles.

    We are recruiting participants who:

    • Are 65 years of age or over.
    • Are not practicing progressive resistance training or challenging balance/mobility training (>1/week) in last 6 months.
    • Does not have lower limbs orthopaedic conditions (e.g., injuries) preventing the performance of lower body movement and tasks.
    • Are not currently undertaking medications affecting the serotonergic and/or noradrenergic systems (e.g., Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and beta-blockers).
    • Did not received recent (last 6 months) medication treatment influencing muscle mass and strength (e.g., cancer-related chemotherapy, hormone replacement therapy and anabolic steroids),
    • Are able to speak or read English.
    • Do not report any cognitive impairments

    You will be asked to attend a single assessment session at Deakin University in Burwood, for approximately 3 hours. All the assessments are non-invasive and painless. During your visit to Deakin, we will:

    • Assess your lower leg muscle strength and activity using electrodes placed on your skin;
    • Assess your body composition (e.g., muscle and fat mass);
    • Ask you to perform simple tasks e.g., sitting, standing, and walking and measure your grip strength;
    • Ask you to complete some simple questionnaires.

    Compensation offered:

    • You will receive a body composition and muscle strength report once you complete the study.

    Click here to view the study PLS and consent forms.

    Contact details for further information:

    Dr Lucas Orssatto, lucas.orssatto@deakin.edu.au