Lara Vlietstra, Academic staff, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences

Lecturer
BSc (Netherlands), MSc (Clinical), PhD (Otago)
Tel +64 3 479 8387
Email lara.vlietstra@otago.ac.nz
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7397-1308
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lara-VlietstraDeputy Director of CARE (Collaboration of Ageing Research Excellence, a University of Otago Research theme)

Background

Lara Vlietstra joined the School in 2022 as a lecturer. After successfully graduating as a physiotherapist (2014, Avans, the Netherlands), she obtained two master's degrees (2017, Clinical Health Sciences, Utrecht University/University Medical Centre Utrecht, and Geriatric Physiotherapy, Avans+) before coming to Otago to complete her PhD in pre-sarcopenia (2021, Department of Medicine & School of Physiotherapy).

Besides her ongoing research projects and her teaching, she is currently the Deputy Director for CARE, a National Executive member of the New Zealand Association of Gerontology (NZAG), Council member for the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) and an Associate Editor for the Australasian Journal on Ageing.

Teaching

SPEX 205 Physical Activity and Health
SPEX 310 Exercise for Clinical Populations

Research

Since being awarded a PhD for her thesis on pre-sarcopenia in middle-aged adults, Lara's research has focused on healthy ageing and the prevention of age-related diseases, with a particular focus on physical activity and sarcopenia.

She is currently the co-primary investigator of the GAMES Study. The Games Athletes Medical Evaluation and Status (GAMES) Study is a study that is researching New Zealand Olympians, Paralympians, and Commonwealth Games athletes as they age. Additional research interests include falls and frailty in older adults.

Lara has active research collaborations in Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Postgraduate Students

Lara is currently welcoming Honour's and Master's students beginning 2023.

Publications

Vlietstra, L., Meredith-Jones, K., de Lange, M., Guiney, H., & Waters, D. L. (2024). Identifying risk factors for pre-sarcopenia in early middle-age. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.08.005 Journal - Research Article

Booth, T., Walker, X., Sole, G., Waters, D., & Vlietstra, L. (2024). Footwear and falls in older people. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 43(Suppl. 1), OR02. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13323 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vlietstra, L., Waters, D., & Meredith-Jones, K. (2023). Longitudinal investigation of risk factors for pre-sarcopenia in mid-life. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(Suppl. 1), (pp. S96). doi: 10.1007/s12529-023-10200-2 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Scoon, C., Walker, X. J., Gale, J. T., Gerrard, D., Peddie, M., Russell-Camp, T., Waters, D. L., Osborne, H., … Vlietstra, L. (2023). The physical function of retired elite athletes compared to the general population: A preliminary analysis. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 7(4), (pp. 134). doi: 10.36905/jses.2023.04.01 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Woolf, L., Cotter, J., Hargreaves, E., & Vlietstra, L. (2023). Psychological and cardiovascular effects of physical activity indoors and outdoors, a cross-over trial. Journal of Sport & Exercise Science, 7(4), (pp. 129-130). doi: 10.36905/jses.2023.04.01 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2024

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Booth, T., Walker, X., Sole, G., Waters, D., & Vlietstra, L. (2024). Footwear and falls in older people. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 43(Suppl. 1), OR02. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13323

2023

Journal - Research Article

Cabral, L. L. P., Browne, R. A. V., Freire, Y. A., Silva, R. d. M., Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., … Costa, E. C. (2023). Association of daily step volume and intensity with cardiometabolic risk in older adults. Experimental Gerontology, 179, 112245. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112245

Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., Jones, L. M., Wilson, L., & Meredith-Jones, K. (2023). High-intensity interval aerobic and resistance training to counteract low relative lean soft tissue mass in middle age: A randomized controlled trial. Experimental Gerontology, 171, 111991. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111991

Journal - Research Other

Vlietstra, L. (2023). [Review of the book Healthy ageing and aged care, 2nd ed.]. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 42(2), 439. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13219

de Lucena Alves, C. P., de Almeida, S. B., Pessoa Lima, D., Neto, P. B., Miranda, A. L., Manini, T., Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., … Costa, E. C. (2023). Muscle quality in older adults: A scoping review. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 24, 462-467. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.02.012

Vlietstra, L., Kirk, B., Duque, G., Qualls, C., Vellas, B., Andrieu, S., … Waters, D. L. (2023). Using minimal clinically important differences to measure long-term transitions of osteosarcopenia: The New Mexico Aging Process Study. Experimental Gerontology, 173, 112106. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112106

Zanker, J., Sim, M., Anderson, K., Balogun, S., Brennan-Olsen, S. L., Dent, E., … Vlietstra, L., … Waters, D. L., … Scott, D. (2023). The Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) sarcopenia diagnosis and management task force: Findings from the consumer expert Delphi process [Brief report]. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 42, 251-257. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13164

Zanker, J., Sim, M., Anderson, K., Balogun, S., Brennan-Olsen, S. L., Dent, E., … Vlietstra, L., … Waters, D. L., … Scott, D. (2023). Consensus guidelines for sarcopenia prevention, diagnosis and management in Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia & Muscle, 14, 142-156. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13115

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2022

Journal - Research Article

Freire, Y. A., Cabral, L. L. P., Browne, R. A. V., Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., Duhamel, T. A., & Costa, E. C. (2022). Daily step volume and intensity moderate the association of sedentary time and cardiometabolic disease risk in community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional study. Experimental Gerontology, 170, 111989. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111989

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Finkler, W., Van Heezik, Y., Waters, D., Vlietstra, L., Zhu, L., Gallagher, S., Walker, R., & Forlong, R. (2022). Virtual nature for marketing? A New Zealand pilot study on immersive 360° VR experiences for nature connectedness and wellbeing. In P. Harrigan & G. Brush (Eds.), Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) Conference: Reconnect and Reimagine. (pp. 648). Retrieved from https://anzmac.org

Davies, J., Waters, D., Hale, L., Vlietstra, L., & Pelicioni, P. (2022). Reliability of remote gait and balance assessment of people with Parkinson's disease. In K. Horne (Ed.), Proceedings of the 38th International Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research (AWCBR). (pp. 84). Retrieved from https://www.queenstownresearchweek.org

Davies, J. W. T., Waters, D. L., Hale, L., Vlietstra, L., & Pelicioni, P. H. S. (2022). Reliability of remote gait and balance assessment of people with Parkinson's disease. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1557), (pp. 102-103). Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Reynolds, A. N., Hodson, L., de Souza, R., Diep Pham, H. T., Vlietstra, L., & Mann, J. (2022). Saturated and trans fat intakes on mortality and non-communicable disease incidence: Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Proceedings of the 45th New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 27). Retrieved from https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/NZSSD22/welcome.html

2021

Journal - Research Article

Meredith-Jones, K., Taylor, R., Brown, R., Cooke, R., Vlietstra, L., Manning, P., Poulton, R., & Haszard, J. (2021). Age- and sex-specific visceral fat reference cutoffs and their association with cardio-metabolic risk. International Journal of Obesity, 45, 808-817. doi: 10.1038/s41366-021-00743-3

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Vlietstra, L. (2021, October). Emerging research in ageing, possibilities and opportunities. Verbal presentation at the Hope Foundation for Research on Ageing Meeting, [Online].

Vlietstra, L. (2021, May). High-intensity interval aerobic resistance training to counteract pre-sarcopenia in middle age, a randomised controlled trial. Verbal presentation at the Asia Pacific Virtual Symposium on Sarcopenia and Frailty Research, [Online].

Other Research Output

Vlietstra, L. (2021, March). Screening and treating pre-sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research Seminar, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Vlietstra, L. (2021). Screening and treating pre-sarcopenia in middle-aged adults (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/12078

2020

Journal - Research Article

Hendrickx, W., Vlietstra, L., Valkenet, K., Wondergem, R., Veenhof, C., English, C., & Pisters, M. F. (2020). General lifestyle interventions on their own seem insufficient to improve the level of physical activity after stroke or TIA: A systematic review. BMC Neurology, 20, 168. doi: 10.1186/s12883-020-01730-3

Waters, D. L., Vlietstra, L., Qualls, C., Morley, J. E., & Vellas, B. (2020). Sex-specific muscle and metabolic biomarkers associated with gait speed and cognitive transitions in older adults: A 9-year follow-up. GeroScience, 42, 585-593. doi: 10.1007/s11357-020-00163-7

Journal - Research Other

Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., Jones, L. M., & Meredith-Jones, K. (2020). High-intensity interval aerobic resistance training to counteract low relative appendicular lean soft tissue mass in middle age: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 9(10), e22989. doi: 10.2196/22989

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., & Meredith-Jones, K. (2020). Protective and harmful factors associated with pro-dromal sarcopenia in an early middle-aged birth cohort. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 39(Suppl. 2), (pp. 29-30). doi: 10.1111/ajag.12811

2019

Journal - Research Article

Vlietstra, L., Stebbings, S., Meredith-Jones, K., Abbott, J. H., Treharne, G. J., & Waters, D. L. (2019). Sarcopenia in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: The association with self-reported fatigue, physical function and obesity. PLoS ONE, 14(6), e0217462. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217462

Waters, D. L., Qualls, C. R., Cesari, M., Rolland, Y., Vlietstra, L., & Vellas, B. (2019). Relationship of incident falls with balance deficits and body composition in male and female community-dwelling elders. Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 23(1), 9-13. doi: 10.1007/s12603-018-1087-4

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Hendrickx, W., Vlietstra, L., Valkenet, K., Wondergem, R., Veenhof, C., English, C., & Pisters, M. F. (2019). The effect of lifestyle interventions on the amount of physical activity after stroke or transient ischemic attack: A systematic review. Proceedings of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) Congress. PLSoA-2232. Retrieved from https://www.wcpt.org

2018

Journal - Research Article

Vlietstra, L., Hendrickx, W., & Waters, D. L. (2018). Exercise interventions in healthy older adults with sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 37(3), 169-183. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12521

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vlietstra, L., Waters, D. L., & Meredith-Jones, K. (2018). Prevalence of pro-dromal sarcopenic-obesity in middle-aged adults: Association with BMI and physical function. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia & Frality Research (ANZSSFR) Annual Meeting. (pp. 53). Retrieved from https://anzssfr.org/past-meetings

Vlietstra, L., Meredith-Jones, K., & Waters, D. (2018). Early middle-age prevalence of sarcopenia, osteopenia and osteosarcopenia in a birth cohort. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS) 28th Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 118). Retrieved from https://www.anzbms.org.au/

Meredith-Jones, K., Vlietstra, L., Haszard, J., & Waters, D. (2018). Repeated childhood fracture is not related to abnormal bone or body composition in middle age. Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS) 28th Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 117). Retrieved from https://www.anzbms.org.au/

Vlietstra, L. (2018). Exercise interventions in healthy older adults with sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Proceedings of the Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference. (pp. 95). Retrieved from https://pnz.org.nz/conference

Other Research Output

Vlietstra, L. (2018, July). Screening and treating pro-dromal sarcopenia and sarcopenic-obesity in middle-aged adults. Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2017

Journal - Research Other

Vlietstra, L., Meredith-Jones, K., Stebbings, S., Abbott, J. H., Treharne, G. J., & Waters, D. L. (2017). Sarcopenic obesity is more prevalent in osteoarthritis than rheumatoid arthritis: Are different processes involved? Rheumatology, 56(10), 1816-1818. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kex303

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Vlietstra, L., Meredith-Jones, K., Stebbings, S., Abbott, J., Treharne, G., & Waters, D. (2017). Sarco-osteopenia in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: Implications for clinical practice. Internal Medicine Journal, 47(Suppl. 2), (pp. 5). doi: 10.1111/imj.13426