Husson Professor Dr. Ben Sidaway Published in Experimental Gerontology, Invited to World Athletics Committee

Published on: September 22, 2025

The peer-reviewed medical journal Experimental Gerontology published a study conducted by Husson University’s Dr. Ben Sidaway, the Geneva Allen Professor in Health Sciences, on how consistent beam walking can improve balance and outright reduce the risk of falls in June.

The study, entitled “Beam walking increases gait velocity and reduces falls risk in older adults,” is Sidaway’s second publication in Experimental Gerontology. His first study in 2022 showed how one’s performance at beam walking could predict their fall risk. 

“A lot of older people fall and hurt themselves, and billions of dollars are spent on rehabilitation and the after-effects of falls,” said Sidaway. “Once a patient falls, they are more reluctant to walk, and therefore they walk less. Fear of falling is a big impediment for functional activity in older adults, so we want to stop them from falling in the first place.”

Sidaway estimates he has published more than 50 peer-reviewed studies throughout his career. In the past, he’s conducted research on Parkinson’s Disease, posture and sports.

In August, Sidaway was also invited to work on World Athletics’ False Start Committee to help create a proposal to rework regulation on what is considered a false start in track and field events.

The False Start Committee is a new aspect of Sidaway’s work. The committee was convened by World Athletics, the governing body for all major track and field events internationally. It will look into changing the longstanding rule that any movement by sprinters within 100 milliseconds of the starting gun would result in a disqualification. 

“A lot of people’s livelihoods depend on this,” said Sidaway. “If you win a 100-meter in the Olympics, or if you’re disqualified, then the person who wins gets a bright future, and the person disqualified is never heard of again.”

Sidaway is the only representative from the United States on the committee, which meets by Zoom. Most members are based in Europe. In-person meetings are planned for the next few months. Sidaway’s previous work researching reaction time, and a particular contract study with Sports Scotland regarding professional rugby players’ ability to kick, led to him being invited to help draft a proposal to change the rules of track and field.

“I think we’ll end up having a short-term fix, and then later a long-term fix,” said Sidaway.

The False Start Committee plans to have a proposal set in motion by early 2026, and data gathering will start soon after.

— Rin Gately