What is fall prevention?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    About one in three older adults experience a fall each year. Older adults are also more likely to experience fall-related injuries, including fractures, head injury, long-term mobility issues, and reduced independence. Therefore, fall prevention is typically targeted at older adults, and involves person-specific strategies to manage modifiable risk factors. Fall prevention methods can include environmental modifications (e.g., putting railings in the shower), management of any chronic conditions that increase fall risk, and physical training.[1][2] Since falls in older adults are a serious public health problem, organizations like the https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/index.html and the [https://ncoa.org/professionals/health/center-for-healthy-aging/national-falls-prevention-resource-center/falls-free-initiative](National Council of Aging) have developed fall prevention initiatives.

    References

    1. ^Montero-Odasso MM, Kamkar N, Pieruccini-Faria F, Osman A, Sarquis-Adamson Y, Close J, Hogan DB, Hunter SW, Kenny RA, Lipsitz LA, Lord SR, Madden KM, Petrovic M, Ryg J, Speechley M, Sultana M, Tan MP, van der Velde N, Verghese J, Masud T,Evaluation of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Fall Prevention and Management for Older Adults: A Systematic Review.JAMA Netw Open.(2021-Dec-01)
    2. ^Lusardi MM, Fritz S, Middleton A, Allison L, Wingood M, Phillips E, Criss M, Verma S, Osborne J, Chui KKDetermining Risk of Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using Posttest Probability.J Geriatr Phys Ther.(2017)