Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective
BackgroundSlips and falls are a serious health concern, particularly among older adults. Current physical therapy protocols strengthen the legs to improve balance. However, arm movements help maintain balance during a slip incident. Understanding how arm movements improve balance may help clinicians...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1371730/full |
| _version_ | 1797269043332251648 |
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| author | Jonathan Lee-Confer |
| author_facet | Jonathan Lee-Confer |
| author_sort | Jonathan Lee-Confer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSlips and falls are a serious health concern, particularly among older adults. Current physical therapy protocols strengthen the legs to improve balance. However, arm movements help maintain balance during a slip incident. Understanding how arm movements improve balance may help clinicians develop more comprehensive fall-prevention protocols to improve patient outcomes.Clinical questionWhat limitations exist in current fall prevention protocols for reducing falls in older adults during slip incidents, and what new strategies can enhance these outcomes?Key resultsSlip incidents often result in a sideways loss of balance, leading to hip fractures in older adults. During a slip, the legs do not produce sideways motion and are less effective in regaining balance in this direction. Contrary, the arms produce 100 + degrees of abduction and this motion reduces falls by 200%+ during a slip incident. Notably, older adults exhibit 35.7% decreased arm abduction acceleration responses compared to younger adults during a slip incident. This delay may be attributed to age-related decreases in type II fibers of the deltoid. High-velocity and ballistic training have been shown to improve the proportion and size of type II fibers as well as improve fall outcomes when focused on the lower extremities.Clinical applicationTherefore, I propose incorporating arm abductor training, alongside leg exercises, as a cost-effective and low-risk intervention to enhance the slip responses in older adults. In light of its minimal risk and considerable potential benefits, starting arm abductor exercises with older adults is a sensible move. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:42:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64c16419204f499082bffe73f957c776 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:42:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-64c16419204f499082bffe73f957c7762024-03-08T04:33:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-03-01610.3389/fspor.2024.13717301371730Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspectiveJonathan Lee-ConferBackgroundSlips and falls are a serious health concern, particularly among older adults. Current physical therapy protocols strengthen the legs to improve balance. However, arm movements help maintain balance during a slip incident. Understanding how arm movements improve balance may help clinicians develop more comprehensive fall-prevention protocols to improve patient outcomes.Clinical questionWhat limitations exist in current fall prevention protocols for reducing falls in older adults during slip incidents, and what new strategies can enhance these outcomes?Key resultsSlip incidents often result in a sideways loss of balance, leading to hip fractures in older adults. During a slip, the legs do not produce sideways motion and are less effective in regaining balance in this direction. Contrary, the arms produce 100 + degrees of abduction and this motion reduces falls by 200%+ during a slip incident. Notably, older adults exhibit 35.7% decreased arm abduction acceleration responses compared to younger adults during a slip incident. This delay may be attributed to age-related decreases in type II fibers of the deltoid. High-velocity and ballistic training have been shown to improve the proportion and size of type II fibers as well as improve fall outcomes when focused on the lower extremities.Clinical applicationTherefore, I propose incorporating arm abductor training, alongside leg exercises, as a cost-effective and low-risk intervention to enhance the slip responses in older adults. In light of its minimal risk and considerable potential benefits, starting arm abductor exercises with older adults is a sensible move.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1371730/fullagingfallsphysical exercisebalancephysical therapyslips balance |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Lee-Confer Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective Frontiers in Sports and Active Living aging falls physical exercise balance physical therapy slips balance |
| title | Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective |
| title_full | Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective |
| title_fullStr | Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective |
| title_short | Strength in arms: empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling—a theoretical perspective |
| title_sort | strength in arms empowering older adults against the risk of slipping and falling a theoretical perspective |
| topic | aging falls physical exercise balance physical therapy slips balance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1371730/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jonathanleeconfer strengthinarmsempoweringolderadultsagainsttheriskofslippingandfallingatheoreticalperspective |