Meta-analysis on effects of trip-based perturbation training reducing fall risk

Falls are a key cause of injury across all age groups. Perturbation-based training, particularly trip-induced perturbation, has shown promise in enhancing balance recovery in lab and real-world scenarios. This study aimed to synthesize the effects of trip-based perturbation training on fall risk, quantified by the fall rate, recovery step length, margin of stability, and maximum trunk flexion angle in healthy adults.

A literature search in major databases led to 11 qualified studies. Meta-analyses were conducted on the lab-induced fall rate, recovery step length, and maximum trunk flexion angle. Other outcome measures, such as fall rate in daily living conditions and margin of stability, were systematically reviewed to further assess the effects of trip-based perturbation training.

The pooled effect size was -0.30 (p < 0.001) for the lab-induced fall rate, 0.27 (p = 0.38) for the recovery step length, and - 9.81 (p = 0.20) for the maximum trunk flexion angle. The review also revealed that the training reduced all-cause prospective falls and improved the margin of stability after a trip.

Trip-based perturbation training significantly reduces the fall rate and enhances postural stability, as evidenced by improvements in the recovery step length, margin of stability, and trunk kinematics.