Michael Brach

University of Münster | WWU · Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Reviews of the literature show that computer-animated games are ascribed a potential in motivating home-based exercise. In order to develop such “exergames” for sedentary seniors, three main tasks are identified and performed in this paper from a sport science point of view: First, a training target and physical exercises must be conceptualized, su...

The general practitioner (GP)'s practice appears to be an ideal venue for recruiting community-dwelling older adults with limited mobility. This study (Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN17727272) aimed at evaluating the recruiting process used for a multi-centre exercise intervention (HOMEfit). Each of six steps resulted in an absolute number of pati...

Diese DIN SPEC wurde im Zuge des PAS-Verfahrens durch einen Workshop (temporäres Gremium) erarbeitet. Die Erarbeitung und Verabschiedung des Dokuments erfolgte durch die im Geschäftsplan genannten Verfasser. Diese DIN SPEC soll das Beschreibungsformat für "Serious Games" definieren. Unter dem Begriff "Serious Games" versteht man digitale Spiele, di...

Background With what has been known as the “triple-win effect”, introducing information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the health care of neurodegenerative diseases is beneficial in delaying the need for institutional care, reducing the associated health care costs, reducing the caregiving burden, and improving individuals’ quality of lif...

Preserving functional health and quality-of-life in old age is a major goal and global challenge in public health. The high rate of sedentary behavior that is characteristic of the older adult population exacerbates impairments of physiological and tructural systems that are typically seen in the aging process. Achieving an understanding of the pro...

Background The management of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) in older populations is usually demanding and involves care provision by various health care services, resulting in a greater burden on health care systems in terms of costs and resources. The convergence of various health services within integrated health care models, which are enabled...

The European Group for Research on Aging and Physical Activity (EGRAPA) is delighted to welcome all of you to the PhysAgeNet & EGRAPA Conference 2024 in Kaunas, Lithuania, themed "Evidence-Based Physical Activity in Old Age." Advances in technology now allow for unprecedented exploration of the body and mind, shifting our focus towards understand...

PeRsOnalised Integrated CARE Solution for Elderly (PROCare4Life) was an EU-funded project that ran from January 2020 until June 2023, whose focus was to further develop and integrate previous ICT solutions developed by several previous EU-funded projects into a unique modular system able to support the autonomy and empowerment and to increase the Q...

BACKGROUND The management of Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDs) in older population is usually demanding and involves care provision by various healthcare services, resulting in a greater burden to be placed on the healthcare systems in terms of both costs and resources. The convergence of various health services within the integrated healthcare mod...

PeRsOnalised Integrated CARE Solution for Elderly (PROCare4Life) has been an EU funded project running since January 2020 until June 2023, whose focus has been to further develop and integrate previous ICT solutions developed by several previous EU funded projects into a unique modular system able to support the autonomy, empowerment and to increas...

This article is about the development of PAR based upon the users’ needs and requirements as well as on behavioural change theories. Older adults with DD or PD tested these PAR in a multi-centre trial on the `usage feasibility ́ and `technical feasibility ́ during 40 days within PROCare4Life Pilot 2. The usage feasibility was rated by patients via...

PeRsOnalised Integrated CARE Solution for Elderly (PROCare4Life) has been an EU funded project running since January 2020 until June 2023, whose focus has been to further develop and integrate previous ICT solutions developed by several previous EU funded projects into a unique modular system able to support the autonomy, empowerment and to increas...

Report about the patients’ experience regarding the pilot phase of implementing a mobile health app promoting PA among older people with Dementia or Parkinson disease. This PA service was developed within the context of the EU project PROCare4Life, incorporating 40 daily notifications delivered to the participants via the PROCare4Life mobile app. T...

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) are the 2 most common neurodegenerative diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. The Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older People (PC4L) project proposes an integrated, scalable, and interactive care ecosystem that can be easily adapted to the needs of...

BACKGROUND Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) are the 2 most common neurodegenerative diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. The Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older People (PC4L) project proposes an integrated, scalable, and interactive care ecosystem that can be easily adapted to the needs of s...

BACKGROUND With what has been known as the ‘triple-win effect’, introducing information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the healthcare of neurodegenerative diseases is beneficial in, “(1) delaying the need for institutional care, and reduction of the associated healthcare costs, (2) reducing the caregiving burden and (3) improving individu...

Background With what has been known as the “triple-win effect”, introducing information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the health care of neurodegenerative diseases is beneficial in delaying the need for institutional care, reducing the associated health care costs, reducing the caregiving burden, and improving individuals’ quality of lif...

Freezing of gait can cause reduced independence and quality of life for many with Parkinson's disease. Episodes frequently occur at points of transition such as navigating a doorway. Therapeutic interventions, i.e., drugs and exercise, do not always successfully mitigate episodes. There are several different, but not exclusive causes for freezing o...

Fifty-nine articles written by authors from Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania provide a rich discussion about the topic “Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Psychological and Behavioral Consequences of Confinement on Physical Activity, Sedentarism, and Rehabilitation.” This collection shows that physical activity behavior and COVID-19 are re...

The aging of the world’s population fundamentally affects medical care, health care systems, and society. More specifically, demographic, and societal trends have far-reaching implications for clinical care, medical research, and health care policy. Regular exercise or physical activity as well as an active lifestyle have been shown to influence th...

Background This paper describes the realisation and evaluation of the EGREPA 2021 conference, in online format. As an example, and support for future conferences, the decision process to switch during the COVID-19 pandemic from onsite to online, the conception and tools, the experiences of the organisers and the feedback of the participants are des...

Welcome Greetings: The European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity (EGREPA) is delighted to welcome all of you to this on-line Conference on: Active Aging – New Challenges, New Opportunities – Bridging Research & Practice. Our scientific program includes two scholars who will deliver a central keynote speech, as well as symposiu...

Background: Exercise groups are one of the most important elements of cardiac rehabilitation. In Germany, a supervising physician has to be present during each group session, which is a limiting factor in meeting the increasing demand for cardiac rehabilitation groups. The National Paralympic Committee Germany, responsible for rehabilitation sport...

Hintergrund: Selbst von chronisch kranken, mobilitätseingeschränkten und zuvor inaktiven älteren Menschen können adaptierte Aktivitätsprogramme sicher durchgeführt werden. Allerdings konnten hohe Raten an begleitenden, aktivitätsunabhängigen unerwünschten Ereignissen (UEs), teils einher-gehend mit Einschränkungen oder komplettem Pausieren des Progr...

Hintergrund: Gezielte körperliche Aktivität gehört zu den wichtigsten Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen bei Herzerkrankungen. In Deutschland besteht ein einzigartiges Konzept von der Frühmobilisierung im Akut-krankenhaus über die stationäre und ambulante Rehabilitation bis zur langfristigen Sekundärprävention in sogenannten Herzgruppen mit lizensierter Übun...

Background: The COVID-19 lockdown could engender disruption to lifestyle behaviors, thus impairing mental wellbeing in the general population. This study investigated whether sociodemographic variables, changes in physical activity, and sleep quality from pre- to during lockdown were predictors of change in mental wellbeing in quarantined older ad...

Background: Dementias—including Alzheimer disease—and Parkinson disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older population members and their families. PROCare4Life (Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults) is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving...

Background: Dementias-including Alzheimer disease-and Parkinson disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older population members and their families. PROCare4Life (Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults) is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving...

Background: Dementias-including Alzheimer disease-and Parkinson disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older population members and their families. PROCare4Life (Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults) is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving...

Symptoms of psychological distress and disorder have been widely reported in people under quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic; in addition to severe disruption of peoples' daily activity and sleep patterns. This study investigates the association between physical-activity levels and sleep patterns in quarantined individuals. An international Go...

Background Public health recommendations and government measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced restrictions on daily-living. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on mental health and emotional wellbeing is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey (ECLB-COVI...

Diminished volumes of habitual physical activity and increased sedentary levels have been observed as a result of COVID-19 home-confinement. Consequences of inactivity, including a higher mortality rate and poorer general health and fitness, have been reported. This systematic review aimed to provide practical recommendations for maintaining active...

Diminished volumes of habitual physical activity and increased sedentary levels have been observed as a result of COVID-19 home-confinement. Consequences of inactivity, including a higher mortality rate and poorer general health and fitness, have been reported. This systematic review aimed to provide practical recommendations for maintaining active...

Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial healt...

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented worldwide public health concern. Characterized by rapid and high frequency human-to-human transmission, the World Health Organization has recommended implementation of public health measures, including isolation of all suspected infectious individuals for a 14-day quarantine period, while governmen...

Although recognised as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and self-isolation have been suggested to generate a burden throughout the population. To provide scientific data to help identify risk factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak, an international cross-disciplinary online...

BACKGROUND Dementias including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older populations and their families. PROCare4Life is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving the care coordination and the quality of life of these target groups. It prop...

Background Dementias—including Alzheimer disease—and Parkinson disease profoundly impact the quality of life of older population members and their families. PROCare4Life (Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older Adults) is a European project that recognizes the benefit of technology-based integrated care models in improving...

Background: Due to home-confinement and social isolation of during the Covid-19 pandemic, reductions in performing physical activities were obsered. A main consequence of inactivity is a poorer general health and a higher mortality rate. Therefore, it is important to inform the public about practical recommendations for staying physically active, e...

COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyles at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launche...

Background: Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifest...

Background Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial health is undefined....

Background: Although recognised as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and self-isolation, have been suggested to generate burden throughout the population. To provide scientific data to help identify risk-factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak, an international cross-discipli...

Background: Public health recommendations and government measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced restrictions on daily living, which may include social distancing, remote work/school, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on mental health and emoti...

Background Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyle a...

Introduction Maintaining and regaining mobility is important in old age. Lateral stability is essential in everyday movements like reaching out to one side and stepping laterally, but also in forward movements, such as stepping over an obstacle. After loss, lateral balance is difficult to regain. Falls onto one side of the body includes an in...

Introduction An e‐learning platform to promote health and wellbeing of older adults and their carers was developed in a European funded project (WHOLE – Wellbeing and Healthy Choices for Older Adults and their Carers). The platform offers an exercise program with exercises in sitting and standing position for the upper and lower body to impro...

Background: In the context of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), a multidimensional home-based exercise program was delivered to chronically ill and mobility-limited elderly at the family practitioner's (FP's) practice through a cooperation between FPs and exercise therapists (HOMEfit study). The intervention lasted twelve weeks and included indi...

DKE, the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies, established an AAL (ambient assisted living) standardisation roadmap and a mobility group working on a standardisation document for DIN and IEC committees. Problems in mobility support, i.e. changing body positions and locomotion, are, among others, (a) individual nee...

Die VDE-Anwendungsregel adressiert die Umsetzung und Sicherstellung der Mobilität unter Berücksichtigung aktueller sowie zukünftig zu erwartender gesellschafts- und sozialpolitischer Anforderungen. Zur Sicherung der für die soziale Teilhabe und die möglichst dauerhafte Sicherung eines selbstbestimmten Lebens erforderlichen Mobilität widmet sich die...

Objectives: To evaluate the effects a home-based exercise program delivered to ill and mobility-limited elderly individuals on physical function, physical activity, quality of life, fall-related self-efficacy, and exercise self-efficacy. Design: Randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN Registry, Reg.-No. ISRCTN17727272). Setting: Fifteen general practit...

Problem Assisted living solutions (AAL) claim to support maintaining independence, one of the most important wishes for ageing or impaired individuals. This includes mobility, i.e. the capability, opportunity and performance of changing body positions and of locomotion. This talk deals with needs and challenges in order to support the development a...

Introduction: A course program (Plan50+) aiming at a healthy active lifestyle and linking aspects of physical activity, mental wellbeing, and nutrition together, has been developed in the European funded project, “Active I – Healthy Active Living for Seniors”, to slow down physical and mental decline and enable a long-lasting, independent particip...

DKE, the German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies, established an AAL (ambient assisted living) standardisation roadmap and a mobility group working on a standardisation document for DIN and IEC committees. Problems in mobility support, i.e. changing body positions and lo-comotion, are, among others, (a) individual ne...

Objectives To present detailed adverse event (AE) data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a home-based exercise program delivered to an elderly high-risk population by an exercise therapist after medical clearance from a general practitioner (GP).DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingGeneral practitioner practices and participant homes....

Hintergrund: Körperliche Aktivität trägt wesentlich zur Gesundheit im Alter bei. Chronisch kranke, mobilitätseingeschränkte Ältere, die in eigener Wohnung leben, sind jedoch schwer durch Interventionen zu erreichen. Die Machbarkeit eines Übungsprogramms, das über eine Kooperation zwischen Bewegungstherapeuten und hausärztlichen Praxen an diese Ziel...

Der Begriff „Altersgerechte Assistenzsysteme“ (AAL - ambient assisted living) umfasst Produkte und Dienstleistungen, welche die täglichen Aktivitäten älterer Menschen mit technischen Mitteln unterstützen. Im Projekt Motivotion60+ wurde ein System zum präventiven körperlichen Training unter Nutzung von Sensorik und Computerspieltechnologien (Serious...

Abstract Mobility in terms of the ability or chance to change body positions and to locomote, is a key element of individual self-dependance. Maintaining self-dependance in old age is known as most important request of the individual. AAL products are designed for meeting this request. The DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Informat...

Programmes containing health-enhancing physical exercise should be evaluated using standards that are just as rigorous as those required for drug development. In contrast to new medicines, exercise programmes are highly complex. This has to be taken into account when designing the research plan. In order to illustrate the development process of a "...