The long-term objective of our work is to reduce the premature death and disability due to fall-related injuries to older adults. The proposed randomized prospective study will determine the effectiveness of a novel exercise-based fall-prevention intervention. To date, our work with the exercise-based intervention has demonstrated its efficacy for reducing laboratory-induced trip-related falls by older women. The basis of the fall-prevention intervention is task-specific training focused on improving performance of compensatory stepping responses (CSR). The intervention specifically improves CSR necessary to avoid falling following postural disturbances that serve as a biomechanical surrogate for a trip. The proposed randomized 12-month prospective study will be conducted over a period of three years.
One specific aim will be addressed and one primary hypothesis will be tested. Older women who do not participate in the CSR intervention will be compared to those of older women who complete the 2 week-4 session CSR intervention.
The specific aim i s to quantify the influence of a CSR intervention on the incidence of all-cause falls during the 12 months following completion of the intervention. We hypothesize that women who participate in the CSR intervention will have significantly fewer all-cause falls. Secondary hypotheses include expectations that compared to the control group, the women who complete the CSR training will have a significantly longer period of time to the first fall and significantly fewer fall-related injuries that require medical attention.

Public Health Relevance

PROJECT NARRATIVE Support of the hypotheses will provide compelling evidence that task-specific CSR training can contribute meaningfully, and in a time- and cost- efficient manner, to fall prevention interventions for older adults. Support of the hypotheses will support the larger-scale adoption of CSR training programs, extension of these methods to additional types of falls, such as slips and laterally-directed falls, and application of CSR training to other populations having high fall-risk such as those with some type of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions that give rise to physical impairments and disabilities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CE001430-03
Application #
7879537
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCE1-JXS (06))
Program Officer
Childress, Adele M
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$294,197
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Nutrition
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Pater, Mackenzie L; Rosenblatt, Noah J; Grabiner, Mark D (2015) Expectation of an upcoming large postural perturbation influences the recovery stepping response and outcome. Gait Posture 41:335-7
Grabiner, Mark D; Crenshaw, Jeremy R; Hurt, Christopher P et al. (2014) Exercise-based fall prevention: can you be a bit more specific? Exerc Sport Sci Rev 42:161-8
Crenshaw, Jeremy R; Grabiner, Mark D (2014) The influence of age on the thresholds of compensatory stepping and dynamic stability maintenance. Gait Posture 40:363-8
Rosenblatt, Noah J; Marone, Jane; Grabiner, Mark D (2013) Preventing trip-related falls by community-dwelling adults: a prospective study. J Am Geriatr Soc 61:1629-31
Grabiner, Mark D; Bareither, Mary Lou; Gatts, Strawberry et al. (2012) Task-specific training reduces trip-related fall risk in women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 44:2410-4
Crenshaw, Jeremy R; Rosenblatt, Noah J; Hurt, Christopher P et al. (2012) The discriminant capabilities of stability measures, trunk kinematics, and step kinematics in classifying successful and failed compensatory stepping responses by young adults. J Biomech 45:129-33
Rosenblatt, Noah J; Grabiner, Mark D (2012) Relationship between obesity and falls by middle-aged and older women. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 93:718-22
Marone, Jane R; Rosenblatt, Noah J; Troy, Karen L et al. (2011) Fear of falling does not alter the kinematics of recovery from an induced trip: a preliminary study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 92:2093-5
Hurt, Christopher P; Rosenblatt, Noah J; Grabiner, Mark D (2011) Form of the compensatory stepping response to repeated laterally directed postural disturbances. Exp Brain Res 214:557-66