A Motor Learning Approach to Reducing Fall-Related Injuries

Falls are the leading cause of injury related death in older adults. In this piece, a motor learning lens is applied to falls, and falls are viewed as three interdependent phases: 1) destabilization, 2) descent, and 3) impact. This review examines how movements can be performed in the descent and impact phases to potentially reduce fall-related injuries. The evidence that movements performed during the descent and impact phases are voluntary motor skills that can be learned by older adults is reviewed. Data from young adult and older adult studies suggest that safe landing strategies can reduce impact force, are voluntary, and are learnable. In conclusion, safe landing strategies may provide a complimentary approach to reduce fall-related injuries.

Automated summary

In this article, falls in older adults are analyzed through a motor learning lens, with falls being viewed as three interdependent phases: destabilization, descent, and impact. The review explores how movements in the descent and impact phases can potentially reduce injuries, and suggests that safe landing strategies are voluntary motor skills that can be learned by older adults. Evidence from studies on young and older adults indicates that safe landing strategies can reduce impact force, highlighting their potential to complement existing approaches in reducing fall-related injuries.