Key TakeawaysUpdated guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend structured exercise to help prevent falls in people 65 and older.The guidelines also recommend that doctors assess their patients for other risk factors that can cause falls, such as vision and hearing problems.The updated guidelines do not include a recommendation for vitamin D and calcium supplements to help reduce falls.
Key Takeaways
Updated guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend structured exercise to help prevent falls in people 65 and older.The guidelines also recommend that doctors assess their patients for other risk factors that can cause falls, such as vision and hearing problems.The updated guidelines do not include a recommendation for vitamin D and calcium supplements to help reduce falls.
New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend that doctors discuss fall prevention strategies with adults aged 65 and older.One of the primary recommendations is structured exercise that targets balance, gait, and mobility.
Falls are the most common cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for adults 65 and older, according toe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2021, more than 38,000 older adults died of injuries related to falls.
“We know that a person’s chance of falling goes up as they age and if they have fallen previously,” said Task Force memberJames Stevermer, MD, MSPH. “Healthcare professionals should discuss with their older patients who are at increased risk whether assessment and interventions, in addition to recommending structured exercise, might be helpful to reduce their risk of falling.”
Fall Prevention Guidance
USPSTF members reviewed studies on group exercise classes, such as tai chi anddancing, to form their recommendations. These classes emphasizegait,balance, functional training, resistance training, flexibility, and endurance.
Based on the studies analyzed, the most common frequency and duration for exercise interventions was two to three sessions per week over the course of a year.
The Task Force also found that “multifactorial” interventions may benefit some older adults in reducing fall risk. These can include nutrition therapy, medication management, and social or community services, saidLi Li, MD, PhD,a task force member and chair of family medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Routine checkups with specialists like neurologists or eye doctors could also help screen for health issues that may increase fall risk.
The Task Force didnotrecommend vitamin D or calcium to prevent falls. A review of studies showed no evidence that low-dose supplementation was effective in preventing falls in older adults. The Task Force plans to publish a separate guideline on vitamin D and calcium supplementation, Li said.
The new guidelines do not apply to people who have certain medical conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia, who require more specialized care.
Unsteady Gait
Who Is Most at Risk for Falling?
The Task Force highlights a few specific groups of older adults most likely to experience a fall:
“We all fall, but for older adults, a recovery from a fall with injury is much more significant. That’s because many older adults tend to be frailer and have less reserve,”Kathleen Cameron, PharmD,the senior director of the Center for Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging, told Verywell.
Best Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection
Cameron said the rate of falls is increasing among younger age groups too, though researchers don’t know why. It may be linked to increased rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and other illnesses that pose risks for falls, such as arthritis and obesity.
Research on exactly how much exercise is necessary to prevent falls in older adults is ongoing, Cameron said. In the meantime, she suggests doing your best to make exercise part of your lifestyle.
“I highly recommend checking out senior and community centers for the group classes being offered,” said Cameron. If classes are streamed online, you may be able to participate remotely.
What This Means For YouFalls can happen anywhere, including at home. By focusing on exercises tailored to improving your balance and gait, you can help prevent falls as you age.
What This Means For You
Falls can happen anywhere, including at home. By focusing on exercises tailored to improving your balance and gait, you can help prevent falls as you age.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online June 4, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8481Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About older adult fall prevention.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online June 4, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8481Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About older adult fall prevention.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online June 4, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8481Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About older adult fall prevention.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online June 4, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8481
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About older adult fall prevention.
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