Background: Despite fall prevention strategies suggested by researchers, falls are still a major health concern in older adults. Understanding factors that differentiate successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery may help improve the prevention strategies.
Objects: The purpose of this review was to identify biomechanical factors that differentiate successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery in the event of a fall.
Methods: The literature was searched through Google Scholar and PubMed. The following keywords were used: ‘falls,‘ ‘protective response,‘ ‘protective strategy,’ ‘automated postural response,’ ‘slips,’ ‘trips,’ ‘stepping strategy,‘ ‘muscle activity,’ ‘balance recovery,‘ ‘successful balance recovery,‘ and ‘failed balance recovery.’
Results: A total of 64 articles were found and reviewed. Most of studies included in this review suggested that kinematics during a fall was important to recover balance successfully. To be successful, appropriate movements were required, which governed by several things depending on the direction and characteristics of the fall. Studies also suggested that lower limb muscle activity and joint moments were important for successful balance recovery. Other factors associated with successful balance recovery included fall direction, age, appropriate protective strategy, overall health, comorbidity, gait speed, sex and anticipation of the fall.
Conclusion: This review discusses biomechanical factors related to successful versus unsuccessful balance recovery to help understand falls. Our review should help guide future research, or improve prevention strategies in the area of fall and injuries in older adults.
이 연구는 수중 운동, 균형 훈련과 복합 운동이 파킨슨 유발 흰쥐 모델에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위해 수산화도파민(6-hydroxydopamine)을 흰쥐의 좌측 내측전뇌다발에 주사하여 파킨슨 모델을 제작하였다. 실험동물은 수중 운동을 적용한 실험군 I, 균형 훈련을 적용한 실험군 II, 복합 운동(수중 운동+균형 훈련)을 적용한 실험군 III, 수술 후 표준사육장에서 운동을 적용하지 않은 대조군으로 배치하였다. 수술 후 7일, 14일, 21일에 실험동