Whatβs Your Risk for Fall InjuryβοΈ Falls are one of the most common and serious issues contributing to a disability in older adults. It's estimated that >50,000 lives have been saved over the past 25 yrs by car airbags - could body airbags protect high risk individuals from injury? . There is a direct correlation between ##fallinjuryand mortality, morbidity, and reduced functionality. Falls occur with highest frequency in the older adults, children, and athletes. >30% of individuals who are >65yo fall every year. In ~1/2 of ##fallsare recurrent. This percentage increases to ~40% in individuals >85 yrs. ~10% of falls result in serious injuries, including fracture of the hip, other fractures, traumatic brain injury, or subdural hematoma. Falls are the most common type of accidents in adults >65 yrs, and are the major cause of hospitalization related to injury. . What Fall Risk Factors Do You Have? In order of evidence strength, fall injury risk factors include history of falls, impairment in balance, reduced muscle strength, visual problems, polypharmacy (defined as taking over four medications) or psychoactive drugs, gait difficulty, depression, orthostasis or dizziness, functional limits, age >80 yrs, female gender, incontinence, cognitive difficulties, arthritis, diabetes, and pain. Fall risk escalates as the number of risk factors increases. 1-yr ##FallRiskdoubles for every added risk factor. It starts at ~8% with no risk factors and increases by up to 78% with (4) risk factors. Medications related to falls include antihypertensives, neuroleptics and antipsychotics, sedatives and hypnotics, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and benzodiazepines #fallprevention #bodyairbag #hipftacture #fallinjury