Designing for Resilience: The Role of Social Connection in Movement for Fall Prevention

The Overlooked Aspect of Fall Prevention: Social Disconnection

While the physical aspects of fall prevention often take center stage, we need a more holistic approach that considers social frailty as a core factor. Social frailty is characterized by isolation from community and lack of supportive relationships, can quietly contribute to cognitive and physical decline, a decrease in confidence, and an increased fear of falling. Research supports this, showing correlations between social exclusion and heightened fall risks.

Creating Social Interventions through Movement

Beyond physical assessments, movement programs have the potential to serve as significant social interventions, fostering spaces of belonging, support, and shared experiences. There are benefits of structured group dynamics, where peer relationships can significantly boost adherence to physical activities and overall wellness.

Practical Approaches to Foster Connections

Here are practical strategies to integrate social connections into movement programs:

1. Supportive Environments: Greet participants by name and ask reflective questions to set a participatory and supportive tone.

2. Positive Experiences: Focus on effort over outcomes, using inclusive language and providing opportunities for participants to experience small, repeatable successes.

3. Peer Encouragement: Facilitate environments where peers can support and motivate each other, reinforcing confidence through shared experiences.

4. Social Opportunities Beyond Class: Create space for social interaction before and after classes, fostering deeper connections and support outside structured exercises.

5. Building Resilience through Connection: Aim to design experiences, not just exercises, that connect participants to their communities and themselves, ultimately reducing their fall risk.

I invited attendees to share how they create meaningful connections in their classes and here are some of the responses I received.

Creating Meaningful Social Connection in Classes

Start With Conversation

• Begin class with a simple opening question.

• Invite sharing, but never require it.

• Examples:

  • “What is one success you had this week?”

  • “Is there something you’d like to share today?”

• Encourage storytelling and make space for participants’ stories.

  
  

Help Participants Connect With Each Other

• Find similarities or “bridges” between people and introduce them.

• Use small groups or partner activities.

• Encourage teamwork and collaboration.

• Promote opportunities for participants to meet outside of class.

• Create environments where participants naturally continue conversations after class.

  
  

Build a Sense of Belonging

• Know participants’ names.

• Celebrate birthdays and milestones.

• Recognize attendance milestones publicly.

• Help participants feel seen, valued, and appreciated.

• “Look at people. Really see them.”

  
  

Create Shared Ownership

• Invite participants to help set up and put away equipment.

• Encourage co-creation of activities and challenges.

• Let participants contribute ideas.

• Foster reciprocity, mutual aid, and agency.

• Give participants opportunities to teach, demonstrate, or share strategies with one another.

  
  

Creating a Fun and Welcoming Environment

Keep Things Playful

• Create activities that promote laughter.

• Use games, trivia, and playful movement challenges.

• Keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable.

• Use fun language and humor.

  • Example: asking participants how “wobbly” they feel at the end of class.

    
    

Surprise and Variety Matter

• Change up the flow of class unexpectedly.

• Add novelty and playful surprises.

• Use creative movement scenarios.

  • Example: asking people to switch seats multiple times without realizing they are practicing sit-to-stands.

• Incorporate dancing, changing speeds, obstacle courses, or playful movement tasks.

• Create “safe surprises” that keep people engaged.

  
  

Music and Environment

• Create playlists that bring joy.

• Use music to create energy, familiarity, and emotional connection.

  
  

Encouraging Confidence and Participation

Invite Participation Gently

• Pay attention to those hanging back or participating less.

• Invite quieter participants into the fold without pressure.

• Respect introverts and extroverts differently.

• Make people feel comfortable while honoring personal boundaries.

  
  

Normalize Struggle and Vulnerability

• Be authentic.

• Share your own challenges and mistakes.

• Let participants know you struggle too.

• Use empathy and compassion.

• Help participants feel understood and not judged.

  
  

Build Confidence Through Exploration

• Allow participants to experiment with movement.

• Use small groups for brainstorming movement solutions.

• Encourage participants to demonstrate their own strategies.

• Provide different equipment or options so people can explore what works best for them.

• Peer encouragement can be especially meaningful.

  
  

Building Community Beyond Exercise

Encourage Social Rituals

• Create opportunities for social interaction before or after class.

• Encourage shared meals, walks, or coffee after sessions.

• Build partnerships with locations that already provide community gathering opportunities.

  • One participant shared that holding class at a community center with a free senior lunch afterward helped reduce transportation, financial, and weather barriers to connection.

    
    

Exercise as a Way to Build “Family”

• Several participants shared how movement classes helped create meaningful relationships and chosen family.

• Exercise spaces can become places of emotional support, belonging, and friendship.

  
  

Creative Class Ideas Shared During the Session

Walking and Outdoor Programs

• Guided community walks with volunteer experts.

• Seasonal walking groups.

• Participants checking in when someone misses class.

• Encouraging participants to bring friends.

  
  

Parkour and Obstacle-Based Activities

• Group-created obstacle courses.

• Collaborative movement challenges.

• Co-created problem solving.

• Building confidence through playful exploration.

  
  

Trivia and Cognitive Engagement

• Team trivia during warmups or walks.

• Using games to stimulate conversation and laughter.

  
  

Gradual Confidence Building

• Allow participants to try equipment before they feel ready.

• Create low-pressure opportunities for progression.

• Focus on familiarity and comfort first.

What Keeps People Coming Back

• Feeling connected.

• Feeling noticed.

• Feeling valued.

• Feeling useful.

• Feeling safe.

• Feeling joyful.

• Feeling part of something.