May 9, 2024

Falls Compendium

This collection of effective fall interventions is designed to help public health practitioners, senior service providers, clinicians, and others who want to address older adult falls in their community.

A CDC compendium of effective fall interventions

Preventing Falls: A Guide to Implementing Effective Community-based Fall Prevention Programs, 4th Edition

The 4th edition of the Compendium describes:

34 single interventions:
- 17 exercise interventions,
- 5 home modification interventions, and
- 12 clinical interventions.
16 multifaceted interventions addressing multiple risk factors.

Each intervention is presented using a standardized format that includes a short summary and additional implementation details:

Purpose
Program setting
Content
Number of sessions
Duration
Type of provider
Provider's training
Key elements
Available materials
Contact information for the principal investigator

The Compendium also includes summary tables comparing characteristics of different interventions, a bibliography, and supplemental materials.

Introduction

Single Interventions

Exercise

Stay Safe, Stay Active Barnett, et al. (2003)
The Otago Exercise Program Campbell, et al. and Robertson, et al. (1997, 1999, 2001, 2005)
LiFE (Lifestyle approach to reducing Falls through Exercise) Clemson, et al. (2012)
Erlangen Fitness Intervention Freiberger, et al. (2007)
Senior Fitness and Prevention (SEFIP) Kemmler, et al. (2010)
Strength and Exercise Program Kim, et al. (2014)
Adapted Physical Activity Program Kovacs, et al. (2013)
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance Li, et al. (2005)
Australian Group Exercise Program Lord, et al. (2003)
Yaktrax^® Walker McKiernan (2005)
Veterans Affairs Group Exercise Program Rubenstein, et al. (2000)
PreFalls (Prevent Falls) Program Siegrest, et al. (2016)
Falls Management Exercise (FaME) Intervention Skelton, et al. (2005)
Music-Based Multitask Exercise Program Trombetti, et al. (2011)
Central Sydney Tai Chi Trial Voukelatos, et al. (2007)
Simplified Tai Chi Wolf, et al. (1996)
Multi-target Stepping Program Yamada, et al. (2013)
Table 1. Summary Table of Studies and Study Population
Table 2. Study Methodology
Table 3. Intervention Characteristics

Home Modification

The VIP Trial Campbell, et al. (2005)
An Occupational Therapy Falls Reduction Home Visit Program Chu, et al. (2017)
Home Visits by an Occupational Therapist Cumming, et al. (1999)
Falls-HIT (Home Intervention Team) Program Nikolaus, et al. (2003)
Home Assessment and Modification Pighills, et al. (2011)
Table 1. Summary Table of Studies and Study Population
Table 2. Study Methodology
Table 3. Intervention Characteristics

Clinical

Three-Year Study of Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) Plus Calcium Bischoff-Ferrari, et al. (2006)
Psychotropic Medication Withdrawal Campbell, et al. (1999)
Active Vitamin D (Calcitriol) as a Falls Intervention Gallagher, et al. (2007)
VISIBLE (Visual Intervention Strategy Incorporating Bifocal and Long-distance Eyewear) Study Haran, et al. (2010)
Vitamin D to Prevent Falls After Hip Fracture Harwood, et al. (2004)
Cataract Surgery Harwood, et al. (2006)
Pacemaker Surgery Kenny, et al. (2001)
Vibration Therapy Leung, et al. (2014)
Perturbation-based Galt Stability Training Pai, et al. (2014)
Study of 1000 IU Vitamin D Daily for One Year Pfeifer, et al. (2009)
Quality Use of Medicines Program Pit, et al. (2007)
Podiatry & Exercise Intervention Spink, et al. (2011)
Table 1. Summary Table of Studies and Study Population Characteristics
Table 2. Study Methodology
Table 3. Intervention Characteristics

Multifaceted Interventions

RESPOND Barker, et al. (2019)
Stepping On Clemson, et al. (2004)
PROFET (Prevention of Falls in the Elderly Trial) Close, et al. (1999)
Living Independently and Falls-free Together (LIFT) Cohen, et al. (2015)
Accident & Emergency Fallers Davison, et al. (2005)
The NoFalls Intervention Day, et al. (2002)
The SAFE Health Behavior and Exercise Intervention Hornbrook, et al. (1994)
Falls Team Prevention Program Logan, et al. (2010)
Steps to Avoid Falls in the Elderly (SAFE) Matchar, et al. (2017)
KAAOS (Falls and Osteoporosis Clinic) Palvanen, et al. (2014)
Multifactorial Fall Prevention Program Salminen, et al. (2009)
Nijmegen Falls Prevention Program (NFPP) for adults with Osteoporosis Smulders, et al. (2010)
The Winchester Falls Project Spice, et al. (2009)
Yale FCSIT (Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques) Tinetti, et al. (1994)
Effects of Vitamin D and Exercise on Falls Prevention in Older Women Trial (DEX) Uusi-Rasi, et al. (2015)
A Multifactorial Program Wagner, et al. (1994)
Table 1. Summary Table of Studies and Study Population Characteristics
Table 2. Study Methodology
Table 3. Intervention Characteristics