Strength in arms
Empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13130778 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jonathan S Lee-Confer (0000-0002-2112-9802, University of Arizona, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Pages | 1371730-1371730 |
| Publication date | 2024-03-08 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fspor.2024.1371730 |
| PMID | 38523707 |
| OpenAlex | W4392593629 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 46 |
Background Slips and falls are a serious health concern, particularly among older adults. Current physical therapy protocols strengthen the legs to improve balance. However, arm movements help maintain balance during a slip incident. Understanding how arm movements improve balance may help clinicians develop more comprehensive fall-prevention protocols to improve patient outcomes. Clinical question What limitations exist in current fall prevention protocols for reducing falls in older adults during slip incidents, and what new strategies can enhance these outcomes? Key results Slip incidents often result in a sideways loss of balance, leading to hip fractures in older adults. During a slip, the legs do not produce sideways motion and are less effective in regaining balance in this direction. Contrary, the arms produce 100 + degrees of abduction and this motion reduces falls by 200%+ during a slip incident. Notably, older adults exhibit 35.7% decreased arm abduction acceleration responses compared to younger adults during a slip incident. This delay may be attributed to age-related decreases in type II fibers of the deltoid. High-velocity and ballistic training have been shown to improve the proportion and size of type II fibers as well as improve fall outcomes when focused on the lower extremities. Clinical application Therefore, I propose incorporating arm abductor training, alongside leg exercises, as a cost-effective and low-risk intervention to enhance the slip responses in older adults. In light of its minimal risk and considerable potential benefits, starting arm abductor exercises with older adults is a sensible move
Balance (ability · Fall prevention · Falling (accident · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Poison control · Slip (aerodynamics · Slipping · Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders · Engineering · Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies · Medicine
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |