Helping physical therapists use CDC's STEADI to prevent falls in older adults
Official title: Developing and testing implementation strategies to support the STEADI for falls risk management in outpatient rehabilitation
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11135484 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $216,670 |
| NIH project number | 5K76AG074920-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135484 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vincenzo, Jennifer Lynn — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Vincenzo, Jennifer Lynn
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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.