HHS HealthBeat (April 01, 2009)

No Fall

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Practice in how to slip could produce results in avoiding falls. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found this when they trained people, using a moveable platform that simulates a surprise slip.

When people trained on the platform then walked on a slippery floor, none fell and only one lost balance. Others who were not trained lost balance, and more than a third fell. All participants were harnessed for safety.

Trained people had better control of the foot on the ground, and unconsciously changed the way they walked to gain more control.

Researcher Clive Pai:

[Clive Pai speaks] "Even old adults – 65 year old or more – can very rapidly learn this skill."

The study in the Journal of Neurophysiology was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 01 2009