For Healthcare Providers
Falling is a Trainable Skill.
The Falling Class is a community-based safer-falling program for adults 55+.
It complements clinical care through progressive movement training, skill development, and confidence building.
“When I fell, I was aware of falling and the next thing I know, I’m on the ground - my arms were crossed on my chest, my head was tucked in ... It happened so fast. I attribute it to The Falling Class we have been going to for the previous 3 weeks. I was impressed and a little shocked … I said damn, nothing is hurting!” - Cliff Bottin, 82
Why Refer to The Falling Class?
The Falling Class complements traditional fall prevention and rehabilitation by addressing an often-overlooked skill: learning how to fall. Through progressive, evidence-informed training, participants develop practical movement skills that can support greater body awareness, confidence, and continued physical activity.
We help students:
Develop Safer-Falling Skills: Build practical movement skills through progressive, play-based learning.
Build Body Awareness & Confidence: Develop greater awareness and confidence during a fall through controlled practice.
Maintain Independence & Mobility: Support long-term independence through proactive safer-falling training or continued skill development following fall-related rehabilitation.
What Students Can Expect
The Falling Class is a six-class, small-group training program. Participants attend one 60-minute class per week, practicing progressive, controlled movement activities on safety pads under the guidance of experienced instructors.
The training adapts to individual abilities and helps students build safer-falling skills through structured, supportive practice.
The minimum physical requirement to participate in The Falling Class is the ability to get up off the floor unassisted.
Who Is a Good Candidate for The Falling Class?
The Falling Class is designed for active adults aged 55 and older who want to develop safer-falling skills. Referring providers should consider each patient's functional abilities, medical history, and individual risk factors when determining suitability.
Appropriate Candidates
Adults 55 and older
Able to walk independently without assistive devices
Able to transition to and from the floor without physical assistance
Medically appropriate for low- to moderate-intensity physical activity involving controlled falling.
Clinical Considerations
The Falling Class involves intentional, controlled falling on safety pads. Certain conditions may require additional consideration, including osteoporosis or increased fracture risk, recent surgery or injury, significant joint limitations, and neurological conditions affecting balance or coordination.
Have a patient who may be a good fit?
Direct patients to TheFallingClass.com or download a program flyer to share. Patients can explore class offerings, learn more about the program, and register independently.
Clinical Evidence & Research
The Falling Class draws on a growing body of research exploring how progressive, safer-falling training can help older adults develop protective movement skills, improve physical function, and build confidence.
Safer-Falling Evidence
Research on comparable safer-falling programs provides encouraging evidence for skill-based training among older adults.
Judo4Balance | Sweden: Research has demonstrated improvements in falling techniques and physical function following structured judo-based training.
Falling Safely Training (FAST) | United States: Experimental research has explored how progressive safer-falling training can reduce head impacts and impact forces during controlled falls.
Additional International Programs: Initiatives in Europe and Asia have explored safer-falling education as a complement to traditional fall prevention.
Advancing Safer-Falling Research
The Falling Class is actively collaborating with universities, researchers, and healthcare professionals to advance the study and application of safer-falling education in the United States.
Georgia State University | Clinical Research
An ongoing randomized controlled trial led by Dr. Feng Yang is evaluating The Falling Class's safer-falling training program among adults aged 55 and older. The study is currently recruiting and collecting data.Mercer University | Healthcare Education
Through a grant-funded partnership, The Falling Class is helping develop an interprofessional simulation experience for healthcare students across nine health sciences programs, launching in 2027. The initiative explores fall-related injuries, age-friendly care, and collaborative approaches to injury prevention.Collaborative Research | Program Evaluation
In collaboration with researchers at Georgia State University, Augusta University, and Emory University, The Falling Class submitted a manuscript evaluating its community-based safer-falling program to the American Journal of Public Health for review.AI-Powered Research Library
Explore our AI-powered research library to discover and better understand published studies on safer-falling techniques, fall-related injuries, and evidence-informed approaches to safer-falling education.
Help Your Patients Take the Next Step
The Falling Class makes it easy to share safer-falling training with appropriate patients. Direct patients to our website or share our program flyer so they can explore upcoming classes and register independently.