Fall prevention interventions
Fall prevention interventions has been studied in 10 papers since 2021: 1 trial in people, 7 reviews; 4 in the past year. The newest paper, Nov 6, 2026: “Interventions for falls among older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review”.
10 papers study it16 findingsUpdated
1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 10 papers on fall prevention interventions
At a glance
Independent labs found the same change in people. 7 independent labs in 5 countries.
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 7 independent labs in 5 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: American College of Emergency Physicians and others
- Human trial1
- In silico1
What did studies of fall prevention interventions find?
9Studies of fall prevention interventions measured 9 outcomes, among them fear of falling, falls and fall rates.
Fear of falling
downin humans2
2 studies
Fear of falling
downin humans2
Fall prevention interventions decrease fear of falling in humans (older adults in low- and middle-income countries) (Improvements reported in all six studies measuring fear of falling).
“All six studies that measured fear of falling reported improvements”
Reviewolder adults in low- and middle-income countries
Interventions for falls among older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
BMC public health
Fall prevention interventions decrease fear of falling in humans (mild to moderate CI) (SMD -0.73 [- 1.10, - 0.36]).
“Fall prevention interventions had significant effects of medium magnitude on fear of falling (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.73 [- 1.10, - 0.36])”
Reviewmild to moderate CIn = 509
BMC geriatrics
Falls
downin humans1no changein humans1
2 studies
Falls
downin humans1no changein humans1
Fall prevention interventions decrease falls in humans (community-dwelling).
“Fall prevention interventions significantly reduced falls across 14 studies.”
Reviewcommunity-dwelling
Clinics and practice
Fall prevention interventions showed no clear effect on falls in humans (mild to moderate CI) (no significant effects).
“The meta-analysis showed no significant effects for falls (number of events or falls incidence).”
Reviewmild to moderate CIn = 509
BMC geriatrics
Fall rates
downin humans2
2 studies
Fall rates
downin humans2
Fall prevention interventions decrease fall rates in humans (older adults with cognitive impairment) (IRR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98).
“Meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in fall rates in intervention groups compared to controls (pooled incidence rate ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.98).”
Reviewolder adults with cognitive impairment4 to 52 weeks
Western journal of nursing research
Fall prevention interventions decrease fall rates in humans (Rate Ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.75-0.86).
“Overall, interventions significantly reduced fall rates (Rate Ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.75-0.86, I 2 =67%).”
Review68% females
Standing Strong: A Systematic Review of Multifaceted Fall Prevention in Older Adults
medRxivPreprint
Functional status
upin humans1
1 study
Functional status
upin humans1
Fall prevention interventions improve functional status in humans (4 of 5 studies).
“Improvement in functional status was noted in 4 of 5 studies reporting this outcome.”
Review
Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Emergency department revisits
no changein humans1
1 study
Emergency department revisits
no changein humans1
Fall prevention interventions showed no clear effect on emergency department revisits in humans (risk difference 0.02 95% CI [-0.05; 0.25] at 12 months).
“ED revisits at 1 month (-0.01 [-0.03; 0.00]), 3 months (-0.04 [-0.14; 0.06]), and 12 months (0.02 [-0.05; 0.25]) were also unchanged.”
Review
Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Accidental falls
no changein humans1
1 study
Accidental falls
no changein humans1
Fall prevention interventions showed no clear effect on accidental falls in humans (risk difference -0.02 95% CI [-0.11; 0.07] at 12 months).
“The interventions did not decrease risk of falls at 3 months (risk difference 0.05 95% CI [0.00; 0.09]), 6 months (0.07 [-0.04; 0.18]) or 12 months (-0.02 [-0.11; 0.07]).”
Review
Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Bone fracture
no changein humans1RR 0.91
1 study
Bone fracture
no changein humans1RR 0.91
Fall prevention interventions showed no clear effect on bone fracture in humans (community-dwelling) (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.72-1.14, p = 0.40).
“For any fractures, five studies (18,519 participants; 1343 events) demonstrated no significant effect (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.72-1.14; p-value = 0.40)”
Reviewcommunity-dwellingn = 18,519
Clinics and practice
Quality-adjusted life-years
upin silico1
1 study
Quality-adjusted life-years
upin silico1
Fall prevention interventions improve quality-adjusted life-years in silico (community-residing).
“all primary interventions dominated usual care.”
In silicocommunity-residing
Age and ageing
Balance
upin humans1
1 study
Balance
upin humans1
Fall prevention interventions improve balance in humans (mild to moderate CI) (SMD 0.66 [0.19, 1.12]).
“balance (SMD 0.66 [0.19, 1.12]), and functional mobility measured as Timed Up and Go test (SMD -0.56 [- 0.94, - 0.17])”
Reviewmild to moderate CIn = 509
BMC geriatrics
What is fall prevention interventions linked with?
3Studies link fall prevention interventions with 3 measures: falls, accidental falls and fall-related injuries.
Falls
mixedin humans1downin humans1
2 studies
Falls
mixedin humans1downin humans1
Fall prevention interventions are associated with falls in humans (older adults in low- and middle-income countries) (Three of eight studies reported fewer falls; one of those three was uncontrolled).
“findings on falls were mixed: three of the eight studies reporting fall outcomes found fewer falls, one of which was uncontrolled.”
Reviewolder adults in low- and middle-income countries
Interventions for falls among older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
BMC public health
Fall prevention interventions lower the risk of falls in humans (visually impaired home healthcare patients).
“Appropriate use of both traditional and emerging fall prevention interventions may reduce fall risk and falls among older adult home healthcare patients.”
Reviewvisually impaired home healthcare patients
Reducing Fall Risks Among Visually Impaired Older Adults
Home healthcare now
Accidental falls
downin humans1
1 study
Accidental falls
downin humans1
Fall prevention interventions lower the risk of accidental falls in community-dwelling healthy older adults.
“research shows that fall prevention interventions can effectively reduce fall risks.”
Reviewin community-dwelling healthy older adults
Frontiers in public health
Fall-related injuries
downin humans1
1 study
Fall-related injuries
downin humans1
Fall prevention interventions lower the risk of fall-related injuries in humans (Risk Ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.91).
“and the risk of fall-related injuries (Risk Ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.91).”
Review68% females
Standing Strong: A Systematic Review of Multifaceted Fall Prevention in Older Adults
medRxivPreprint