Parkour for Older Adults: A Prescription for Fall Prevention

Parkour exercises can help prevent falls among older adults, according to U.S. News & World Report . "The common thought was that parkour should be accessible to everyone," says Blake Evitt at Parkour Generations Boston, who trained with the sport's founders in France. Parkour classes in Europe always included one or two senior students, while in the United States the sport has mainly been targeted at young men. The PK Move nonprofit organization in Northern Virginia teaches parkour to underserved populations, including people 50 and older through its PK Silver fitness and falls prevention program. PK Move President Sean Hannah says falls among seniors usually happen during daily activities, which makes practicing fall prevention and mitigation critical. "What if you need to step over something while carrying an object?" he asks. "We break it down by steps. That's as playful to seniors as jumping across rooftops is for someone like me."