Falls and motor behavior in older adults

Authors

  • Renato Moraes Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil - renatomoraes@usp.br http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8029-8334
  • Rosangela A. Batistela Biomechanics and Motor Control Lab, School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
  • Luciana O. Santos State University of Tocantins, Faculty of Medicine, Augustinópolis, TO, Brazil
  • Natalia M. Rinaldi Center of Physical Education and Sports, Department of Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v15i5.258

Keywords:

Aging, Balance, Gait, Prehension

Abstract

This mini-review focuses on intrinsic risk factors for falls, particularly the changes in motor behavior of faller older adults. Our purpose is to present evidence that faller older adults exhibit motor behavior changes beyond the typically investigated standing and walking tasks. We showed initially that postural control alterations with more prominent differences for fallers than non-fallers seem to depend on postural demands, availability of sensory information, and tasks performed concomitantly with the balancing task. We also provided evidence that walking speed is the most consistent aspect to differentiate fallers from non-fallers. This reduction in walking speed may be a strategy to improve gait stability to avoid a fall. More recent studies have shown that fallers presented modifications in the control of the prehension movement. These changes suggest that fallers have changes in movement categories other than balancing and walking, suggesting that fallers’ difficulties are broader than previously thought. The fact that faller older adults have modifications in the control of upper and lower limbs is indicative of a change in motor behavior involving gross and fine motor behaviors. The understanding of a faller as an individual with global changes in motor behavior has important implications for fall prevention and rehabilitation programs for these individuals.

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Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

Moraes, R., Batistela, R. A., Santos, L. O., & Rinaldi, N. M. (2021). Falls and motor behavior in older adults. Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior, 15(5), 403–415. https://doi.org/10.20338/bjmb.v15i5.258

Issue

Section

Special issue: 15 years of Brazilian Journal of Motor Behavior

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