The sex and age of older adults influence the outcome of induced trips

Background. Falls are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in ol der adults, with up to 53% of these falls due to tripping. To aid in fall p revention, there is a need to identify the factors that determine whether a trip is recoverable and those factors that increase an older adult's risk of falling. Methods, Trips were induced during gait in 79 healthy, community-dwelling, safety-harnessed older adults (50 women) using a concealed, mechanical obst acle. Trip outcomes were graded as recoveries, falls, rope-assists, or miss es. Kinematics were recorded during normal gait, without and with the safet y harness. Selected gait parameters were compared to determine whether the experimental conditions affected gait at the time of the trip. Results. Thirty-nine trip outcomes were classified as recoveries, 10 as fal ls, 12 as rope-assists, and 18 as misses. Women fell more than four times a s frequently as men. Women younger than 70 years fell more than three times as frequently as those older. Trip outcomes in the men were essentially un affected by age. The foot obstructed to induce the trip did not affect the trip outcome. The presence of the safety harness had almost no effect on ga it. The length of the stride preceding the trip did not differ from normal. Conclusions, The majority of trips in healthy older adults did not result i n falls. Older women were more likely than men to fall following a trip. Th e likelihood of falling from a trip was greatest in the youngest older wome n.