Understanding how older adults control their head and neck during falls
Official title: Vestibular and neck muscle contributions to head control in response to induced head perturbations and falls in balance-impaired older adults
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-10789703 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how older adults can better control their head and neck when they fall, with the hope of finding ways to prevent injuries from falls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $435,582 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG085014-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10789703 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who have experienced balance issues or are at risk of falling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not older adults or do not have balance impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how older adults manage head and neck control when they experience falls, which are common and can lead to serious injuries. The study will use advanced techniques to measure head motion during controlled fall scenarios in a laboratory setting. By examining the roles of the vestibular system and neck muscle function, the researchers aim to identify factors that contribute to better head control during falls. The ultimate goal is to develop new strategies to prevent head and neck injuries in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative methods for reducing the risk of head and neck injuries in older adults who are prone to falls.
How similar studies have gone: While research on fall prevention exists, this approach focusing on head and neck control during falls is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sosnoff, Jacob J. — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Sosnoff, Jacob J.
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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.