Falls among older adults are a major public health issue, accounting for approximately 2 million incidents annually in France, resulting in more than 10,000 deaths and 130,000 hospitalizations. Their cost is estimated at nearly 2 billion euros per year and is expected to rise as the population ages.
Falls result from multiple factors, including biological, behavioral, and environmental factors, with balance and gait disorders playing a central role. Their consequences include loss of independence, restricted activity, and fear of falling.
The ability to get back up from the ground after a fall is still largely overlooked. Yet up to two-thirds of older adults who have fallen are unable to get up on their own, exposing them to serious complications and an increased risk of further falls. This skill remains under-assessed and under-trained.
Physical activity-particularly programs combining balance, muscle strengthening, and functional training-can reduce the risk of falling by approximately 20 to 30 percent. Balance workshops are widely used for this purpose. However, these interventions primarily focus on fall prevention and rarely address fall management, particularly the ability to get up from the floor. Specific interventions targeting this skill are still underdeveloped, with mixed results.
The integration of structured training in getting up from the floor into balance workshops
People over the age of 65
Able to walk 100 m independently, with or without a walking aid (1 cane or 1 crutch)
Individuals who have fallen at least once in the past 12 months
Individuals who feel unsteady while standing or walking
Refusal to participate in the study
Individuals who walk with two canes or a walker, or who are unable to walk
Medical contraindications to physical activity (cardiac conditions, acute illness, uncompensated vestibular disorder).
Major cognitive impairment or dementia preventing active participation.