Fall Prevention Week 2026
As we observe Fall Prevention Week 2026, we renew our focus on one of the greatest global public health issues recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Falls are preventable through increasing awareness, training and education, safety measures, physical activity, addressing orthostatic hypotension and other medical problems impacting balance, correcting vision impairments, and screening for balance, gait, and movement impairments. Balance is so essential to our every day life and maintaining our independence as we age, that many now consider it as the “sixth vital sign” (alongside heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, and pain).
The Scope of the Fall Crisis: why awareness matters—and why it may not be enough
Slips, trips, and falls by the numbers
Updated statistics from the CDC now report an age-adjusted fall death rate of 78.4 per 100,000 adults aged 65 and older in 2024, up from 64.7 in 2018, a 21% increase.
Six years of national screening initiatives, annual awareness campaigns, and comprehensive clinical practice guidelines have not moved the needle. Instrumented posturography is a crucial component to identify balance deficits by "making the invisible, visible."
Around 9 million of these falls result in injuries serious enough to require medical treatment or to limit daily activity.
Each year, there are about 3 million emergency department visits and 1 million hospitalizations due to falls among older adults.
The unintentional fall death rate in 2023 for adults age 65+ reached 69.9 per 100,000 population, with the highest rates in adults 85+.
Nationally, an older adult dies every hour from a fall-related injury.
Aging, Independence, and Quality of Life
Falls remain the leading cause of injury-related death and the primary reason older adults lose independent living. In fact, over 1 in 4 older adults fall each year, and less than half ever tell their doctor.
A simple self-check can make a big difference:
Are you worried about falling?
Do you feel unsteady when standing or walking?
Have you fallen in the past year?
If the answer is yes, it’s time to talk to a provider about prevention. Start with the CDC’s Self-Assessment for Fall Risk to guide the conversation.
The Hidden Costs of Falls in the Workplace
Slips, trips, and falls aren’t just a health issue, they are also a major workforce and economic concern.
According to OSHA’s 2024 data, slips, trips, and falls are the #1 cause of same-level workplace injuries in the U.S.
Construction and manufacturing see the highest rates of fall-related fatalities due to falls from heights
The education and health services sectors report the highest overall number of same-level slip and trip injuries, accounting for nearly one-third of all workplace injuries requiring time away from work.
People who fall at home are more than 2.1 times more likely to slip in the workplace.
Preventing falls in professional settings doesn’t just protect people, it preserves productivity and reduces costs.
Why Traditional Balance Training Isn’t Enough
Most exercise programs focus on voluntary balance: standing on one leg, holding a yoga pose, or practicing stability drills in a visually static environment of the four walls of the clinic. But when it comes to real-life slips, trips, and falls, the brain doesn’t have time to consciously respond. Instead, slips and trips trigger semi-automatic, largely reflexive reactions that can be modified through training, such as moving-floor plate or treadmill training.
This is why prevention programs need to go beyond static balance training. Reflexive practice, sensory integration, and real-world simulation are key to building safer, more confident movement.
Tools like Bertec’s Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) system help clinicians evaluate the sensory and motor systems that underpin balance, making it possible to design targeted interventions that directly address fall risk. The ability to control the visual environment and introduce task-specific activities also allows clinicians to train reactive stepping and challenge patients in ways that more closely reflect real-world conditions.
Building a Safer Future Together
Fall prevention requires a team approach: health care providers, families, employers, and communities all play a role. With assessment, education, and the right training, fall risk can be reduced across the lifespan.
At Bertec, we’re committed to advancing this mission through:
Functional balance testing
Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) to evaluate sensory contributions to balance
Vision and gaze stability assessment
Perturbation training to strengthen automatic recovery responses
Virtual reality–based rehabilitation
Vision training to improve stability and reduce fall risk
Together, through awareness and innovation, we can help reduce the burden of slips, trips, and falls for older adults, workers, and communities worldwide.
