Surface perturbation training to prevent falls in older adults: A highly pragmatic, randomized controlled trial.

Phys Ther. 2020 Jul 19;100(7):1153-1162. Lurie JD, Zagaria AB, Ellis L, et al.

Background: Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults, and trips and slips are major contributors to falls.

Purpose: The authors sought to compare the effectiveness of adding a component of surface perturbation training to usual gait/balance training for reducing falls and fall-related injury in high-risk older adults referred to physical therapy.

Conclusion: The addition of some surface perturbation training to usual physical therapy significantly reduced injurious falls up to 3 months posttreatment. Further study is warranted to determine the optimal frequency, dose, progression, and duration of surface perturbation aimed at training postural responses for this population.

See abstract.