Strength in Arms
Empowering Older Adults Against the Risk of Slipping and Falling
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.361Keywords:
aging, training, strength, falls, physical therapy, preventionAbstract
Background: Slips 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 Question: What limitations exist in current physical therapy interventions for preventing falls in older adults during slip incidents, and what new strategies can enhance these outcomes?
Key Results: Slip 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 slower arm abduction responses compared to younger adults. 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.
Clinical Application: Therefore, 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. Given its low risk and high potential benefits, why not start training the arm abductors in older adults now?
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References
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Copyright (c) 2023 Jonathan Lee-Confer (Author)
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