# Minimizing Fall-Related Injury in Older Adults: a motor learning approach

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $196,809

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury and death among older adults. Fall related injuries occur when
the impact force of the fall is greater than tissue strength. An alternative approach to current practice is
teaching older adults protective movements that reduce the impact force when they to fall. This high risk/high
reward approach is fundamentally different from traditional approaches in injury prevention.
There is evidence that teaching safe landing strategies (i.e. movement patterns) can significantly reduce hip
impact forces and head acceleration in young adults. Recent pilot data suggests that older adults can learn to
fall so that they minimize their impact forces and head acceleration. However, the sample was limited to older
adults with minimal risk of falls. Consequently it is not clear if older adults at risk of falls can safely learn to fall
safely.
The ultimate goal of this innovative proposal is to set the stage for the development of a novel approach to
reduce fall related injuries in older adults. The immediate goal of this proposed R21 is to determine the
feasibility of Falling Safely Training program in an at-fall risk older adult group, the key measureable stages of
FAST mastery, and, most importantly, the effect size, compared to Otago Exercise Program (an evidence-
based fall risk reduction program) controls, to inform a larger future trial. The current investigation, is a
necessary step, to determine if teaching older adults at risk of falls in a standardized progressive program is
safe (Aim 1), and whether at risk older adults can learn to fall with reduced head acceleration and hip impact
forces (Aim 2). 28 participants will be randomized into one of two groups (fall training or balance training). All
participants will perform standardized sideway falls and have their hip impact and head acceleration quantified
utilizing validated techniques. Participants will undergo 8 standardized progressive training sessions, undergo
baseline and post training assessments and a 3-month follow-up session. Consistent with the principles of
motor learning, learning will be quantified with changes in hip impact force and head acceleration following
training, and 3-month retention. The overall goal of this project is to systematically determine whether training
older adults to fall safely has potential utility as a strategy to reduce fall-related injuries which can be combined
with current fall prevention efforts.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10480865
- **Project number:** 5R21AG073892-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacob J. Sosnoff
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $196,809
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-05 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10480865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10480865, Minimizing Fall-Related Injury in Older Adults: a motor learning approach (5R21AG073892-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10480865. Licensed CC0.

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