Baseline trunk angle predicts improvements in trunk angle after reactive balance training in older adults

Reactive balance training (RBT) using trip-like perturbations on a treadmill was implemented for four weeks among independent older adult residents of retirement communities. Training-induced improvements in trunk kinematics could be predicted from only trunk kinematics following trip-like perturbation tests prior to training. Although limited to this small sample and training method, these results could have clinical implications by clarifying individuals who can benefit from such training.