What is it about?
Serious fall injuries are one of the most dreaded and devastating conditions experienced by older persons. Data are lacking from randomised trials that serious fall injuries can be prevented. This trial found that a structured physical activity program, compared with a health education program, did not reduce the risk of serious fall injuries among sedentary older persons, but may reduce the rate of fall-related fractures and hospitalisations in men.
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Why is it important?
Serious fall injuries such as hip fractures and head injuries are comparable to strokes in clinical importance for older persons. Therefore, it is important to identify strategies, such as structured physical activity, to prevent series fall injuries, particularly as the population is rapidly aging.
Perspectives
The safety and demonstrated benefit of the LIFE physical activity program in reducing major mobility disability, coupled with suggestive evidence from the current study for reduction of fall-related fractures and hospitalisations in men, support continued evaluation of the program for possible widespread implementation in the community.
Thomas M Gill
Yale University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Effect of structured physical activity on prevention of serious fall injuries in adults aged 70-89: randomized clinical trial (LIFE Study), BMJ, February 2016, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.i245.
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