What it is
Falls are unintentional descents to the ground or a lower surface, representing a leading cause of injury and mortality in older adults.
Research-supported
Falls
Unintentional descents to the ground or lower surface, particularly significant in older adults where they represent a major cause of injury and functional decline.
CategoryMusculoskeletal
Reviewed by Internal Medical Editorial Team · Editorial Health Review
26 March 2026
At a glance
Falls at a glance
Commonly experienced as
- The experience of falling — particularly for the first time — is frightening and humiliating. The loss of trust in one's own body is profound. Family members often respond with well-intentioned restriction of activity that inadvertently increases falls risk through deconditioning.
