Gerhild Ullmann

University of Memphis | U of M · Graduate School - School of Public Health

Falls among older adults are a serious public health issue, and fear of falling can limit mobility, which in turn increases fall risk. A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Model is an evidence-based program designed to address fear of falling. The objective of this study was to describe implementation, dissemination, and outcomes of this progra...

The purpose of the present study was to examine similarities and differences in the development of gross motor skills among four-year-old American and Chinese children. One hundred (53 boys and 47 girls) four-year-old children from Memphis, Tennessee, US (24 boys and 26 girls) and from Rizhao, Shandong Province, China (29 boys and 21 girls) were te...

Background Decline in cognitive function associated with aging is one of the greatest concerns of older adults and often leads to a significant burden for individuals, families, and the health care system. Executive functions are most susceptible to age-related decline. Despite the well-known benefits of regular exercise on cognitive health, older...

Decline in cognitive function associated with aging is one of the greatest concerns of older adults and often leads to significant burden for individuals, families, and the health care system. This 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) responds to the urgent need to identify strategies which can enhance and/or maintain cognitive vitality in older...

Background: Child obesity is a major public health challenge, increasing the risk of chronic medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension. Among U.S. states, Tennessee has one of the highest rates of child obesity. Emerging communication technologies can help to deliver highly disseminable population-level inter...

With a 17% prevalence rate, pediatric obesity is a public health challenge in Tennessee, increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension among children. cUsing graphic design and media, a demonstration project, Memphis FitKids, was developed and implemented in the Greater Memphis Area, Tennessee, to educate parents abo...

We will describe the creation and management of Fitwizard.org. This grant-funded project involved creating three online courses for teachers about the importance of children being active during the school day. The site also contains a database of instructional activities submitted by teachers and health experts, searchable by subject, grade level,...

Poor cognitive health a major concern of aging individuals, can compromise independent living. More than 16 million people in the United States are affected by cognitive impairment. We have studied the effects of the Feldenkrais Method� on cognitive function. In this case series with three participants cognitive function was assessed with the Trail...

Background It has been recognized that the compulsory nature of K-12 education makes schools an ideal platform to ensure that virtually all children and adolescents will meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA). One integral component of a whole-of-school PA approach is classroom teacher instructed in-cla...

Context • A lack of cognitive health can limit a person's well-being and may compromise independent living. The potential for cognitive decline is a major concern for aging individuals. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve cognitive processes. However, functional limitations frequently prevent older adults from participating in conve...

Obesity is a major public health challenge; more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese.1 Obese individuals have an increased risk for developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. The management of obesity includes lifestyle modifications such as increased physical activity. However, more than 80% of adults do not...

Falls and fall-related injuries are critical issues for older adults; evidence indicates that multidimensional interventions that address modifiable risk factors can be successful in reducing falls. Few evidence-based fall prevention interventions exist due, in part, to complex issues associated with development and implementation. There is a need...

Subclinical depressive symptoms are common among older patients in primary care practices. This study examined the effects of a five-week Feldenkrais intervention on depressive symptoms (CES-D), perceived stress (PSS-10) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in independent living older adults. Participants (N=47) were randomly assigned to two...

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among gait and mobility under single and dual task conditions in older adults. Community-dwelling older adults (n=41, mean age=75) completed mobility and gait tasks. Mobility was assessed with the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG). Select gait parameters were examined while individuals walked at their pref...

In this case study, two male children (ages 6 and 7) with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD) walked across a GaitRITE pathway under four ‘walk’ conditions (two single and two dual task conditions; simple and complex); gait variables studied included speed, cadence, step and stride length. Both groups exhibited consistent right-le...

Falls and fall-related injuries are a major public health concern, a financial challenge for health care providers, and critical issues for older adults. Poor balance and limited mobility are major risk factors for falls. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of Feldenkrais exercises in improving balance, mobility, and balance confidence...

The Community Long-Term Care (CLTC) program in South Carolina offers services to nursing home eligible persons that allow them to remain at home and receive help with activities of daily living. Variation in the ways potential clients are evaluated often produces inconsistent eligibility determinations. We developed a simple, objective assessment t...

Stay in Balance - A program to promote Fall Prevention F.A.C.T.S. - Functional Abilities Counseling and Testing for Seniors

Assessment of the efficacy of an evidence- based community program to reduce Fear of Falling. Implementation process of ‘A Matter of Balance’ program in Rural South Carolina.

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries in older adults. The purpose of this research is to examine effects on risk factors for falls. Outcomes of an intervention based the Feldenkrais Method are presented.