Posters for 3rd World Falls Congress 2026

[Introduction] The Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) is an evidence-based fall prevention program for older adults, yet its effectiveness in home settings is limited by poor adherence and unsupervised, incorrect execution. Real-time digital monitoring presents a viable solution to bridge this gap. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a smart insole system (iBalanx), which was designed to provide real-time auditory feedback during OEP training. [Methods] A pilot randomized crossover study was conducted with six community-dwelling older adults (aged≥65)

Background: Older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) following a fall are at high risk for recurrent falls, injuries, and increased healthcare utilization. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of interventions initiated upon ED presentation in reducing falls and related outcomes among older adults. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in six databases (Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, Web of Science, and Scopus) up to June 2025, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. This yielded 9,624 references, of which 4,811 records

Introduction Many falls are due to slippery floor conditions. While building and WHS regulations may impose floor safety requirements, there is minimal research funding, an overreliance on subjective assessments, poor documentation of products and incidents: indeed a perfect recipe for broken bones and, as a consequence, floors requiring premature replacement. Merchants and architects require relevant slip resistance data to ensure floors will remain safe for economically reasonable life cycles when appropriately maintained, thus fulfilling user expectations and sustainability requirements

Introduction Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in older adults is a risk factor for falls. Anticholinergic medications may contribute to OH through autonomic dysfunction, but evidence for symptom-specific outcomes remains inconsistent. This study examined the association between anticholinergic burden and OH symptoms in older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) after a fall. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among adults aged ≥ 65 years presenting to the ED of Amsterdam UMC after a fall between 2014 and 2024. OH symptoms were assessed using the validated CAREFALL Triage

Background Vestibular complaints are common in older adults and are linked to imbalance and falls. Some older adults show impaired vestibular perception despite preserved peripheral-reflex (“vestibular agnosia”). Yet it remains unclear if vestibular agnosia is independently linked to imbalance and falls in otherwise healthy older adults. We therefore investigated the prevalence of vestibular agnosia in community-dwelling older adults, and examined its association to balance and prospective falls. Methods Vestibular perceptual thresholds were measured during yaw-plane rotational chair testing

Background: Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) has emerged as a significant driver of accelerated Older Adult frailty. While peripheral muscle loss is a known falls risk, the intersection of persistent systemic inflammation and central neurovascular impairment remains under-defined. This study utilizes the Cerebro-Sarcopenic Axis framework (Zanker et al., 2021) to investigate how IL-6 mediated disruptions in cerebrovascular reactivity contribute to gait instability in older PASC patients. Methods: We synthesised mechanistic evidence across studies on PASC inflammation and its

Introduction: Accurate hydration chart documentation is pivotal in guiding daily fluid management decisions, particularly on geriatric wards, where older patients living with frailty often cannot advocate for themselves and require monitoring of their hydration status to account for their decreased thirst sensation and ability to concentrate urine (Hooper and Bunn 2015, Bennett 2000, Phillips et al. 1984). On Ward 35 of Aintree University Hospital, inconsistent documentation of drinks consumed along with micturition frequencies rendered hydration charts unreliable for clinical decision-making

Introduction Biomechanical balance models can help identify fall-prone individuals. The often-used extrapolated center-of-mass model describes how well the body is controlled relative to the feet’s functional base-of-support (fBOS). Often, a single foot marker is used to define the fBOS, reducing balance accuracy. Therefore, we created age-specific fBOS models and evaluated changes in the fBOS size with age, frailty, fall history and fear. Methods We assessed 38 young (26±5 yrs), 14 middle-aged (50±7 yrs), and 34 older participants (76±6 yrs; 20 non-frail (Clinical Frailty Scale=1&2); 10

Introduction: Falls in older adults mostly occur during walking under sensory challenges, such as walking in the dark, suggesting inefficient integration of sensory inputs. We developed a novel test titled “Sensory Integration in Walking (SensIWalk)”, which allows for the elucidation of the sensory integration in ecologically valid scenarios. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the SensIWalk Test in healthy young and older adults. Methods: Data were collected in the GRAIL System (Motek Medical BV, The Netherlands). The SensIWalk Test comprised six walking

Introduction St Marys Hospital is a small acute island hospital. The Isle of Wight is a popular retirement destination with a rapidly aging population. Inpatients comprise a high proportion of older people living with frailty at high risk of falling during their admission. St Mary’s were early adopters of PSIRF, and falls prevention was highlighted as a primary local priority. PSIRF focusses on learning, rather than attributing blame, Method Data from 2023 indicated that 40% falls were related to toileting. Quality Improvement methodology was used to review evidence for improving outcomes

Introduction Current fall risk assessment tools are largely episodic, clinician-led, and not suited to continuous, real-world monitoring. Consumer wearables could offer continuous passive monitoring. Prior studies using wearable data use clinical-grade sensors or lab-based gait tests so limited real-world applicability Consumer wearables (Fitbit, etc.) are widely adopted but underexplored for fall risk classification. Method This was an observational cohort study over 6 months with 140 Fitbit users. Nested cross-validation: outer 10-fold × 5 repeats, inner 10-fold for hyperparameter tuning 6

Introduction Hip fracture is the commonest fracture in adults over 60 years, with high morbidity and mortality. Remote Ischaemic Conditioning (RIC) is a non-invasive intervention consisting of brief, repeated cycles of limb ischaemia and reperfusion for periods that avoid physical injury to the limbs, but induce neurohormonal, systemic or vascular changes in the body. Studies have demonstrated that RIC may have anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective effects following orthopaedic surgery and could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes. Method This was a single-arm

Introduction Cervical spine injury (CSI) can cause significant morbidity and mortality in frail older adults. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment has been shown to improve outcomes and reduce length of stay (Scottish Trauma Audit Group; British Geriatric Society). This retrospective observational study analysed outcomes in 53 CSI patients admitted to the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) between January and August 2025. Methods Variables including age, sex, clinical frailty score (CFS), length of stay (LOS), mortality, physiotherapy input, and geriatrician review were analysed. Patients were

Introduction Wearable devices enable low-cost, real-world monitoring of individuals, capturing rich sensor data suitable for event detection. As studies increasingly rely on digital real-world monitoring, accurate and efficient event annotation (e.g., falls, disease-related symptoms) is essential. However, current labeling workflows often rely on manual logging or generic tools, which are time-consuming, error-prone, and lack the temporal precision required for high-frequency sensor data. Methods We developed Sigmark, an open-source graphical interface (Python, PySide6) designed to standardize

Introduction Falls are common in inpatient settings and are associated with poor outcomes. Evidence demonstrates multifactorial interventions to address fall risk factors are effective, and as such, have been incorporated into national and international guidelines. However, these complex interventions are difficult to implement at scale in hospitals. Continuous audit with embedded quality improvement is one method for implementation and scaling up complex interventions. Methods The National Audit of Inpatient Falls (NAIF), funded by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership and run by the

Introduction Falls among community-dwelling older adults remain a major cause of morbidity and place a substantial burden on individuals and healthcare systems. Evidence-based exercise programmes, such as the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP), are effective in reducing fall risk. However, access to these interventions remains limited in current practice, which reduces engagement and contributes to low adherence among older adults. This project aimed to address access barriers by adapting the delivery of the OEP to better meet community needs. Method An intervention plan was developed to improve

Introduction: High-fidelity simulation provides a safe scaffold for developing clinical skills within an out-of-hours context. Night-shifts introduce compounding human and system factors that disproportionately affect care of frail older patients. Delirium and inpatient falls are common high-risk overnight presentations, yet recognition of frailty syndromes and the need for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is frequently missed1,2. System-wide approaches to frailty education include multimedia resources and clinical champions; however simulation-based training for is often poorly

Introduction Evidence-based exercise programs that improve balance and strength can reduce fall risk in older adults but are often unpopular. Our previous evaluation of community-based, tailored dance classes showed high participation and sustained attendance, but their effectiveness for fall prevention remains untested. This pilot trial examined the acceptability and feasibility of a tailored dance intervention and identified program and implementation features to guide future trials. Method We conducted a randomised waitlist-controlled pilot delivering a 10‑week, twice‑weekly dance program

Introduction Around a third of people aged 65 and over fall every year and falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admission among older adults in the UK. Despite evidence that physical activity reduces falls risk, public awareness of falls prevention information is low. Improving access to this information and leveraging the unique clinical contacts of paramedics to support early signposting, may enhance the reach of falls prevention resources empowering older people to help reduce their falls risk. Method We conducted a systematic mapping review to identify UK-based, community

Introduction Stroke frequently causes paretic ankle dorsiflexor weakness, impairing gait coordination and increasing fall risks. While a single session of wearable ultrasound visual feedback (UVF) training has been shown to improve isometric ankle dorsiflexion strength in chronic stroke survivors, the transfer of these effects to overground walking is unknown. This study investigated effects of an 8-week UVF training program on walking performance and inter-joint coordination in community-dwelling older adults with stroke. Method Thirty-four older adults with chronic stroke were randomized (17