The ReacStep reactive balance training program demonstrated excellent adherence and improved maximum step length and choice stepping reaction time in older people, but these improvements did not translate to reductions in laboratory-assessed reactive balance falls or daily-life falls over 1 year.
There were no significant differences between groups in laboratory-assessed reactive balance falls at post-test.
The ReacStep intervention did not significantly reduce daily-life falls over 12 months compared to controls.
The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in maximum step length at post-test compared to controls.
The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in choice stepping reaction time at post-test compared to controls.
Adherence to the ReacStep program was high at 90%.
The study enrolled 88 older people with a mean age of 72 years as a randomised controlled trial with assessor blinding.
The ReacStep program involved tether-release reactive stepping and intentional slips as its core training components.
Improvements in step length and stepping reaction time did not translate to improvements in reactive balance recovery from unexpected trips and slips.
This research tested a new balance training program called 'ReacStep' designed to help older people recover from unexpected slips and trips — a common cause of falls. The program involved older adults (average age 72) practicing reactive stepping and intentional slips once a week for 6 weeks using simple, low-cost equipment, while both the training group and a control group also did home-based strength exercises. Researchers tracked falls in the laboratory and in daily life over 12 months. The training group showed clear improvements in their ability to take longer steps and react more quickly with their feet, but these gains did not lead to fewer falls either in laboratory tests of balance recovery or in everyday life over the following year. This research suggests that while the ReacStep program is practical, safe, and well-accepted by older adults (with 90% of sessions completed), improving stepping speed and length alone may not be enough to prevent falls from unexpected disturbances. The type of practice — weekly sessions of reactive stepping — may need to be more frequent, more varied, or more closely matched to the kinds of challenges that cause real-world falls. The finding that physical improvements did not translate into fall prevention is an important cautionary result for clinicians and researchers designing fall prevention programs. The study highlights that fall prevention is complex, and that gains in measurable physical abilities do not automatically reduce fall risk. This research suggests the ReacStep approach shows promise in terms of feasibility and participant engagement, but further refinement of the program — such as more sessions, different training stimuli, or longer duration — may be needed before it can be recommended as an effective fall prevention tool for older adults.
Sharma S, Chaplin C, Hicks C, Treacy D, Farlie M, Phu S, et al.. (2026). Effects of the 'ReacStep' training program on balance recovery and fall risk factors in older people: an assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial.. Age and ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag259