Improving Capacity to Reduce Fall-Related Injury Risk in Older Adults

The purpose of this proposed study is to advance our knowledge of this innovative and simple training program, FAST, to determine if it has potential to improve the physical capacity to arrest a fall and reduce injury risk in older community-dwelling women and men. Using our novel lab-based energy absorption and strength measures, we will be able to compare fall-arrest capacity changes in older men and women.This study will also help to inform strategies to engage older men in exercise programming. Research Goals and Objectives: The principal research questions of this study are: 1. Does the FAST improve fall arrest capacity in older women and men as compared to usual activity (wait control period)?, 2. Does FAST increase arm muscle strength, response time, mobility and balance control compared to usual activity? , 3. Are there sex differences in fall risk changes, fall arrest capacity, and chance of head impact? and 4. Do men differ from women in their perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to participating in FAST? The hypotheses are that: 1) FAST will result in greater improvements in energy absorption, UE strength, response time and mobility compared to usual activity for both older men and women; however 2) men will demonstrate enhanced fall arrest capacity and 3) will identify unique barriers and facilitators to participation compared to women. The study is a quasi-experimental pre-post design with a wait list control period where 60 men and women, age 60 years or older will be recruited to participate in FAST.