Faculty
Education and Clinical TrainingBS: 1978, University of Kentucky, Physical TherapyPh.D.: 2004, Indiana University, Instructional Systems Technology DPT: 2004, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions MSEd: University of Kentucky, Clinical and College Teaching Clinical SpecialtyPhysical TherapyGeriatrics Clinical InterestsClinical interests are focused in the areas of wellness and prevention of mobility disability in aging adults. Within these areas are the interests in the clinical measurement of impairments and function, in community exercise classes, and how to promote physical activity and exercise.Research Program and Department AffiliationsCollege of Health ProfessionsResearch InterestsQualitative: Exploring elements of PT practice and critical thinking. Quantitative: Exploring the effectiveness of exercise interventions for mobility disability in aging adults.Research AbstractImpact of a circuit-style task specific activity program on falls and injurious falls in a PACE program.
Methods: Subjects were newly admitted participants of the PACE program. Forty one individuals participated in the 6-month program, 38 completed the intervention. Two participants died and one participant was excluded due to marked clinical deterioration during the program period. The control group consisted of all of the consecutive admissions from another local, PACE site during the same time period as well as the participants from the intervention site who chose not to participate in the group. Data analysis: Administrative data from the 38 program participants and 36 comparison observations were analyzed. Demographic characteristics were compared using independent t-test (age) or chi-square test (sex). Incident falls and falls resulting in injury occurring over a 180 day period following the start of the program, or following admission to the PACE program were enumerated. The mean number of any falls and of injurious falls in the program and comparison groups were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Associations between participation in the training program and incident falls were adjusted for age and sex using multivariate analysis. Results: Over 80% of subjects in both groups were female. Mean age was slightly higher in the training group than in the comparison group, (84.1 ± 7.4 and 81.0 ± 8.9, respectively, p=.104). Mean number of any falls did not differ in treatment and comparison groups, however, among those who fell, the mean number in the comparison group was 3.06 ± 1.73 vs 2.17 ± 1.59 in the treatment group (p=.104). Significantly fewer injurious falls occurred in the treatment group (sp=.002). Relative risk of having an injurious fall in the comparison group was 1.69 (95% CI = 1.10-2.60). The association among fallers, between participation in the treatment group and number of falls, persisted after multivariate adjustment for age and sex. Discussion: These findings suggest a novel task-specific program can reduce injurious falls and may reduce frequency of falls in a group of PACE participants.
Additional InformationCurrently the Director of the Post Professional DPT program, Dale has written about many topics in geriatrics, authored chapters in several textbooks, written articles in peer reviewed journals, and currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. She has received several honors and awards from organizations such as the Section on Geriatrics, Pi Lambda Theta, Phi Delta Kappa, and PEO; most recently receiving the Distinguished Educator Award from the Section on Geriatrics, APTA. She is a past President of the Section on Geriatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association. She speaks nationally on topics related to optimal aging, functional evaluation, exercise, community-based exercise and evidence-based practice. Dr. Avers has been a practicing clinician in geriatrics and outpatient orthopedics for 30 years.This profile was last updated on 08/25/2008 A short link is available for this profile: |
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