title: Adaptability to perturbation as a predictor of future falls: a preliminary prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Falls often result from failed responses to unexpected, externally applied perturbations. Whether performance-based, reaction-based, and/or adaptation-based assessment tools can predict future fails among community-dwelling older adults is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This preliminary prospective study examined the relationship between older adults' future fall risk and their reactive responses and adaptations to repeated slips, and their functional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen community-dwelling adults (>64 years) were exposed initially to a session of repeated slips. About 30 months later, self-reported falls experience data were collected for the preceding year from these participants. Slip outcome (fall, loss of balance, or recovery), slip score (weighted sum of slip outcomes), Timed Up and Go scores, and future fall incidence were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four participants who reported at least 1 fall had significantly higher slip scores than the rest. In contrast, neither failed recovery on the first slip nor a higher TUG score predicted greater odds of future falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community-dwelling older adults' adaptability to externally imposed perturbations may reveal their future fall risk.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA. cpai@uic.edu
authors: Yi-Chung
authors: YC
authors: Pai
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Wang
authors: Debbie D
authors: DD
authors: Espy
authors: Tanvi
authors: T
authors: Bhatt
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D004856:Postural Balance; D011930:Reaction Time