The German Sport University Cologne (Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln) is Germany’s largest and most prestigious centre of teaching and research in physical education and sport science. Originally founded in Berlin in 1920 as a national College of Physical Education, in 1970 it was formally recognized as a State University. As a specific subject area university with 19 scientific institutes (departments) it covers a wide range of sport science teaching and research. And thus, the German Sport University Cologne is one of the biggest and most important exercise and sports related research & science institutions in Europe.
The Institute of Sport Gerontology is one of the 19 institutes covers a broad field of basic and applied movement sciences on ageing. On the one hand the theoretical approach comprises muscular, motor and cognitive adaptation on training. On the other hand the applied research focuses on development, realization and evaluation of exercise training programs in different target groups (e.g. community-dwelling people, demented persons, care residents) and in various settings. The design and development of methods and diagnostics is the cut surface of the basic and the applied research of the institute.
Role in the consortium:
The Institute of Sport Gerontology (DSHS) will investigate the scientific background and the practical implementation of all exercise related issues regarding falls and fall prevention. We will develop the diagnostic instruments (FPT) in order to predict exercise related risk factors for falls, and we will design the exercise program (AAEP); both issues are contents of the software. So, the institute will closely collaborate with the research partners IBV, NeuRA, and University of Siegen (USI). In addition, together with USI, IBV, PRE and the end-users we will evaluate the exercise program. The results of the evaluation and the effectiveness of the exercise program will be re-integrated in the enhancement of the program’s contents. Therefore, the institute will be linked between content development and end-user evaluations.
Key Personnel:
Sabine Eichberg
Sabine Eichberg is the provisional head of the Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology. Her research focuses on the changes and training of physical and cognitive performance in elderly subjects. Her emphases are on the association between motor and physical performance and the increase of motor and physical performance by different exercise programs. She worked as a member of the Heidelberg working group in the Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adulthood (ILSE) from 1995 until 2004, and in 2006-2008 she was project leader of the Study on the influence of physical activity and training on motor and cognitive performance in older people (MoCog).
Hannah Marston
Her research interests are within the
area of technology, rehabilitation, gaming, game genre, gender,
social networking and gerontology. Game design and development as is important
for widening the gaming demographics and take-up by non-traditional users. The foci of her PhD concentrated upon
the importance of video game content and interaction by older adults using the
Sony PS2 and Nintendo Wii consoles.
Tobias Morat
Tobias Morat is research assistant in the Institute of Sport Gerontology. His area of expertise is in the field of strength and coordination training, fall prevention and diagnostics with elderly. After his Bachelor study in Freiburg (Germany) in "Sport Science and Sport Therapy", he finished his Master study in Cologne at German Sport University in “Physical Activity, Performance, and Aging” and works since 2009 at the Institute of Sport Gerontology.
Michael Kroll
Michael Kroll has recently completed his MA in “Sport Gerontology” at the German Sport University Cologne, during which he investigated the impact of Exergaming on coordination and strength in older adults. His interest include rehabilitation, technology and gaming with older adults and he is looking forward to commencing his PhD, which will encompass these areas of interest.
