Brendan Humphries, acting director of the Biomechanics Laboratory, is conducting the 12-month research project targeting people ages 65 and older.

The project, funded through a $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, will determine if the walking poles are commercially viable.

"When many people reach age 65, they have retired and stopped exercising altogether," Humphries said. "Whatever exercise they did get while they were employed has stopped. However, we know that exercise will result in people enjoying healthier and longer lives.

"The poles should help improve balance, providing the participants with improved confidence," he said. "I am interested to determine if the participants would take the process one step further and begin to work out more vigorously."

Humphries believes other positive benefits of the study include learning more about a person's balance, walking gait characteristics, ability to negotiate an obstacle course, muscle strength and functional ability.

"This should assist participants in identifying risks of falling," Humphries said. "Also, participants should benefit from the exercise conducted through the course of the study and the social interaction with other people in the study group."

Individuals participating in the study will receive $200. Participants will also receive free health and fitness evaluations valued at $2,500, including balance assessments, bone scans, blood screening and supervised exercise sessions.

To participate, contact the Biomechanics Lab at 5-5139, 5-5126 or 5-5178.