Public scholar: Emma Chen
How can we use dance to create engaging and accessible ways for older adults to improve their balance, and how can blood flow restriction training amplify these benefits?
Emma Hsiaowen Chen (she/elle) is a doctoral candidate in the department of Health, Kinesiology & Applied Physiology. A former dancer, her research explores how online dance classes, combined with blood flow restriction training, can act as an accessible method for improving balance and reducing the risk of falls in older adults. Using her background in exercise science and psychology, she focuses on the physiological, biomechanical and cognitive components of balance, examining how both dance and blood flow restriction can influence these systems.
Alongside her research, Emma is a passionate dance teacher working with older adults across Ontario, Québec, Mexico and Spain. She also serves on the governing board of engAGE, a research community committed to advancing collaborative research to address the complex needs of an aging population. These ongoing community connections help drive and inspire her research.
Emma’s PhD is generously funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (formation de doctorat).