The Improvement of Turning Ability is a Key Objective for Fall-Risk Reduction in Individuals with Impaired Dynamic Stability

Turning difficulty is a sign of balance instability and may be indicative of elevated fall risk. Features extracted from the 90° turn suggest that this turn type is the most unstable type of turn in older adults with compromised balance control. Since the 90° turn is also the most common type of turn executed during activities of daily living, we recommend targeting movement strategies specific to 90° turning during therapeutic intervention. Specific neuro-rehabilitation strategies to improve/optimize turning ability in individuals with compromised stability may significantly contribute to fall-risk reduction. The adoption of quantitative tools for the assessment and monitoring of turning quality is advisable.