Falls in older people: Risk factors and prevention strategies
An overview of the latest evidence
October 24, 2023
Speaker: Professor Stephen Lord, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (read more about Professor Lord)
- Time: 2 - 3:30 p.m. (MT)
- Location: via Zoom
- Cost: free
Falls pose a major threat to the wellbeing and quality of life for older people. Falls can result in fractures, head trauma, disability and fear, and can trigger a decline in physical function and loss of autonomy. This presentation will discuss fall risk and mobility assessments and the roles exercise, impaired vision, sensation, strength, reaction time and coordination play in predisposing older people to falls. Wearable sensors in clinic assessments, the potential for remote monitoring (using wearable sensors and smartphones) for improving falls prediction, and new tests for enhancing our understanding of fall risk such as stepping speed, accuracy and inhibition, and gait adaptability will be shared. New approaches for fall prevention will be discussed.
Professor Stephen Lord:
Stephen Lord is a Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales and a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia. His research interests include instability, falls and fractures in older people and clinical groups with balance impairment. His research follows two main themes: the identification of neuropsychological,
sensorimotor and balance risk factors for falls and the development and evaluation of fall prevention strategies. His current projects include the development of digital gait biomarkers, reactive step training and cognitive-motor interventions to prevent falls and studies addressing fall risk in people with diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and cognitive impairment. He is also actively engaged in initiatives aimed at implementing falls prevention evidence into policy and
practice.
