Episode #121. The vital sign you will live longer, how well can you navigate a Figure-of-8-Walk (F8W) Test? Dr Jennifer Brach, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health.

Every 11 seconds, an older adult is admitted to the emergency room due to a fall, and every 19 minutes, a fall-related death occurs. We focus on what we eat, exercise, and relationships and connections. We think about preventing cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and dementia to have longer healthier lives. However, falling is the most prevalent and expensive issue facing people.

Falls are the primary cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries in those aged 65 and over, as reported by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the previous year, 27.5% of older adults experienced a fall, and 10.2% suffered an injury related to the fall, according to data from 2018.

Recent studies have shown that subtle changes in walking ability, such as slowing down or increased variability, can significantly increase the risk of falls, and mobility issues, and even lead to nursing home placement or death. However, many clinical measures of walking ability only assess straight-path walking, while daily activities in the home and community often require curved-path walking skills, such as walking around furniture or navigating street corners. By focusing on these critical aspects of walking ability, Jennifer's research offers new insights into effective strategies for fall prevention in older patients.

The financial consequences of falls are also substantial, it is anticipated that this expense will rise over time, with estimates indicating it will reach $101 billion by 2030.

On the move is an evidence-based fall prevention program developed by Dr Jennifer Brach that offers simple, cost-effective interventions by reducing or eliminating known risk factors, offering treatments that promote behaviour change, and leveraging community networks.

In addition to physical harm, falls can also result in psychological harm such as fear of falling, which can be overwhelming and lead to physical decline, depression, and social isolation. While the leading causes of death for people over 65 may be related to ageing, it's important to remember that many of these conditions can be prevented or managed with healthy lifestyle choices and medical treatment.

In the field of fall prevention for older patients, there is a wealth of ongoing research focused on developing effective strategies to reduce the risk of falls. Jennifer's research specifically explores the complex motor skill of walking, which involves intricate interactions between brain and body systems to walk and rapidly adapt to changes in conditions and intent.

Navigating everyday life environments requires creating an internal (mental) map of the environment, planning the path and executing the walk (eg, walking through a grocery store, walking to a table to be seated in a restaurant). As such, daily life walking even without objects to carry or signals to respond to is, by nature, a dual-task or even multi-task activity. Dr Brach and her team developed Figure-of-8 Walk Test (F8W), that combined curved-path walking and navigation to better test the complex walking abilities necessary for independence in daily walking activities.

"On the move" exercise programs where regular physical activity can help improve balance, strength, and flexibility, all of which can reduce the risk of falls. Exercise programs such as Tai Chi, yoga, and resistance training have been found to be particularly effective in older adults.

Learn more about Dr Jennifer Brach's research at
https://www.sph.pitt.edu/directory/jennifer-brach
On the Move: Group Exercise for Improved Mobility in Older Adults®

https://www.onthemove.pitt.edu/about/team/

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com