Helping physical therapists use CDC's STEADI to prevent falls in older adults

Developing and testing implementation strategies to support the STEADI for falls risk management in outpatient rehabilitation

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · NIH-11135484

This project helps outpatient rehab clinics and physical therapists use the CDC's STEADI tools so adults 65 and older receive regular fall screening and prevention care.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS (nih funded)
Locations1 site (LITTLE ROCK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11135484 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Falls are a common and serious problem for people 65 and older, and the CDC's STEADI offers practical steps to screen and reduce fall risk. The team will work with outpatient rehabilitation clinics and physical therapists to identify barriers and facilitators to using STEADI, using interviews and surveys with patients and staff. They will co-design implementation strategies through a stakeholder-driven quality improvement process and then pilot those strategies in clinics while collecting clinic and provider outcomes. The pilot will also explore early signals of improved patient-level care related to fall risk.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 or older who attend outpatient physical therapy for mobility, balance, or fall-risk concerns and receive care at participating clinics.

Not a fit: People under 65, those who do not use outpatient rehabilitation, or residents of long-term care facilities may not be included or directly benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, more older adults could get routine fall screening and prevention during rehab visits, which may lower falls and related injuries.

How similar studies have performed: STEADI has been used in primary care with some success improving screening and prevention, but applying and sustaining STEADI in outpatient rehab settings is less tested.

Where this research is happening

LITTLE ROCK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.