ABSTRACT
Falls among older adults are a major public health burden in the United States. Falls and fall deaths increase with age, but there are other modifiable risk factors that have been identified and can be addressed. Moreover, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury among older adults, and 90% of their hip fractures are caused by a fall. Exercise, particularly exercise that targets strength, gait, and balance, has been found to reduce fall risk, falls, the rate of falls, and death, although the effect differs by duration, intensity, type, time for follow-up, and other factors. The 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis by Tricco et al. found that exercise plus vision assessment and treatment was probably the most effective intervention to reduce injurious falls. Vitamin D insufficiency is a risk factor for falls, and vitamin D supplements are an easy, safe, and inexpensive remedy.
