Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42704260›Full record

ArticleAge and ageing2026

Standing strong and tall-improving mobility and balance in older Aboriginal people through the Ironbark program.

Rebecca Ivers, Kathleen Clapham, Courtney Ryder, Rona Macniven, Anne-Marie Hill, Holger Moeller, Bronte Haynes, Margaret Gidgup, Leanne McCarthy, Tamara Mackean and 5 more

Abstract readControlled Clinical TrialMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Age and ageing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Rebecca IversSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3448-662X
Kathleen ClaphamSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Courtney RyderSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6511-1965
Rona MacnivenSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2967-7977
Anne-Marie HillSchool of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1411-6752
Holger MoellerSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bronte HaynesSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Margaret GidgupCentre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University, Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Leanne McCarthySchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tamara MackeanCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Kim DelbaereFalls, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Barker St., Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5655-0234
Anne TiedemannFaculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Catherine SherringtonFaculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Julieann CoombesSchool of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ironbark Investigators Group

Funding

A/Prof Ryder Investigator 2017719Department of Health, Disability and Ageing National Health and Medical Research Council A/Prof Coombes Investigator 2008426Prof Delbaere Investigator 1143085Prof Ivers Investigator 2041334Prof Ivers Research Fellowship 1136430Prof Sherrington Investigator 2025541Project 1143085Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation Support
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevention of falls aids healthy ageing, but there are few Aboriginal-led and designed programs.

objectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ironbark, an Aboriginal co-designed fall prevention program, on functional mobility, a key indicator of falls.

methodsThis controlled pre-post study was conducted in organisations delivering services to Aboriginal people aged 45 years and older in New South Wales and Western Australia. A co-designed fall prevention program incorporating exercises and yarning circles targeting fall risk factors ('Ironbark Standing Strong and Tall') was compared to a social program ('Ironbark Healthy Community'). Data were collected at baseline and after 12 months of follow-up.

resultsThe 'Ironbark Standing Strong and Tall' program was delivered at 16 sites and the 'Healthy Community' program at three. Due to lower recruitment than anticipated, combined analysis was not possible. There were significant improvements in the 'Ironbark Standing Strong and Tall' participants for the primary outcome of functional mobility (Short Performance Physical Battery; a change of 0.8 points, 95% CI: 0.4-1.1), reductions in stepping times, improvements in leg stance and increased incidental and planned exercise. There were no significant changes in falls, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) or psychological distress. Participants in the 'Healthy Community' sites had no change in functional mobility but saw declines in HRQoL, physical activity and stepping time.

conclusionsA co-designed and delivered program for older Aboriginal people, implemented in community settings aligned with stated priorities of Aboriginal older people, improved functional mobility.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsExercise TherapyHealth Services, IndigenousHealthy AgingMobility LimitationPostural BalanceAgedAge FactorsFemaleFunctional StatusHumansMaleMiddle AgedNew South WalesProgram EvaluationQuality of Lifeco-designcommunity ledhealthy ageingindigenous healtholder people

Identifiers

PMID42704260
PMCPMC13548327

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.