Melanie Kistler-Fischbacher ESA-SRB-ANZBMS 2021

Melanie Kistler-Fischbacher

Melanie Fischbacher is a PhD candidate in the School of Allied Health Sciences at Griffith University under the supervision of Prof Belinda Beck and Dr Benjamin Weeks. In 2014, Melanie graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (BSc and MSc) where she studied Human Movement Sciences. During her Masters and in the years after she graduated, her research focus was on the effectiveness of motor-cognitive multitask training and strength training to reduce fall risk in seniors with cognitive impairment. More recently her research focus changed towards the effectiveness of high intensity resistance training in managing musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In her PhD research project, Melanie is investigating the influence of antiresorptive bone medication on bone-targeted exercise to prevent osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. The trial aims to examine the combined effect of two strategies that have previously been prescribed in isolation. Positive findings from the current study will help to bridge the gap between different health care providers to consider different strategies for the management of osteoporosis concurrently.