Fall related injuries and the resulting deaths in older adults are a major, and increasing, health problem world wide.^1–3 About 30% of people over 65 years of age fall at least once a year, and about half of these do so recurrently.^{1, 3, 4} A fall may result in a fracture, particularly in an older person, and about 90% of hip fractures result from falls.⁵ The outcome of a hip fracture is fatal in 12–20% of cases.⁶ The annual cost of fall related fractures in the United States is estimated to be $10 billion.⁷ Furthermore, the incidence of hip fractures continues to rise steadily, even when age adjusted figures are used.^{1, 2}

There are many causes of falls, and they are reviewed in detail elsewhere.^{8, 9} Some of the major categories of risk factors for falling are:

• General physical functioning

• Gait, balance, and physical performance

• Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular measures

• Demographic factors—for example, age, race

• Sensory impairments

• Medical conditions

• Indicators of general health

• Medication use

• Psychological, behavioural, social, and environmental factors

Even a cursory scan of this list discloses many modifiable factors.¹⁰ Therefore strategies for injury prevention may have an important role in alleviating the problem of fall related injuries. Training that involves strength, balance, and improved transfer must form part of an optimum intervention strategy to prevent falls.^{11, 12} This editorial aims to highlight opportunities for sports medicine clinicians and scientists who wish to work in a multidisciplinary research …