Preparing for the Worst, Hoping for the Best - Fall Training in Prosthesis Users (JPO034-3A)

Preparing for the Worst, Hoping for the Best - Fall Training in Prosthesis Users (JPO034-3A)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are a leading cause of fatal injury in older adults. One in four able-bodied adults older than 65 years fall every year. These falls can be triggered by a multitude of factors, including medical emergencies, such as a stroke or heart attack, or simply obstructions (uneven terrain, rugs, fallen objects) in the person’s path. It is no surprise that the risk of falls is higher in people with lower-limb loss. It was found that more than 52% of this population experience at least one fall every year, over twice the rate of able-bodied elderly individuals. The study also found that transfemoral limb loss is associated with greater fall risk than transtibial limb loss and that people who have had their prosthesis for less than 4 years were at a greater fall risk than those who have had it for over 4 years.