Biomechanics of fall-related impacts and balance in seniors

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Fall-related injuries are an important public health issue affecting seniors. They are the leading cause of hospitalizations in seniors and cost the Canadian economy approximately $2.8 billion in direct annual costs. Of particular concern are hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), both of which are precipitated by falls in up to 90% of cases in older adults. The underlying principle that guides this proposal is that the risk of a fall-related injury is directly related to the ratio of loads applied to body tissues vs. the strength of the tissues (termed factor of risk). Consequently, to develop and implement evidence-based interventions we require greater insights into the variables that influence the loads applied to the body during fall-related impacts including individual factors (age, gender, anthropometrics), balance control factors (strategies of balance recovery and protective responses), and external engineering devices.