Fall risk clues after stroke to help prevent future falls
Official title: Fall Phenotyping after Stroke to Improve Prediction and Prevention of Falls
Funded at Mgh Institute of Health Professions · NIH-11367564 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a quick fall-risk tool for people recently discharged after stroke to better predict and prevent falls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mgh Institute of Health Professions NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $724,011 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD119121-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367564 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who are ambulatory after inpatient stroke rehabilitation and being discharged home.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not recently discharged from inpatient stroke rehabilitation or not ambulatory may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Ambulatory stroke survivors face a high risk of falls after returning home, which can lead to injury and reduced activity. This project will test a concise fall-risk screening tool and compare it with existing methods, while also examining common fall types and the best predictors for each type. The study will enroll about 402 adults leaving inpatient rehab and will collect data on motor, non-motor, and social factors before discharge, then track falls for three months. Findings could improve how clinicians identify high-risk patients and tailor prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more accurate fall risk assessments and personalized prevention plans after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows fall risk screening can be predictive, but this study aims to validate a concise tool and map fall types in the first months post-stroke.
Where this research is happening
-
Mgh Institute of Health Professions
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Plummer, Prudence — Mgh Institute of Health Professions
- Study coordinator: Plummer, Prudence
Related research
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This study is all about helping people who have had a stroke improve their balance and lower their chances of falling by trying out new training methods that focus on specific balance issues.
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-
Using electrical stimulation to improve balance training for stroke survivors at risk of falling
This study is looking at a new way to help people who have had a stroke and struggle with balance, by using a special training program that combines electrical stimulation with balance exercises to make it easier for them to stay steady and avoid falls.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.