from University of Illinois
Falls are the most common cause of injury to older adults, specifically more than one in three people over sixty-five are said to fall every year. Investigators at the University of Illinois wanted to see if they could predict a person’s risk of falling so that preventive measures could be taken. Participants in the study were tested on their walking ability and the number of falls in the last year. They also wore a small device with motion sensors that measured their walking patterns. Data extracted from the devices could accurately predict the risk of falls. That information was confirmed by physical examinations of unsteadiness standing or walking. The findings are important since those at risk can reduce their