Traumatic experiences of unintentional falls as a factor inspiring methodological modifications of intervention programs

Abstract: The “Polish School of Safe Falling” is characterised by a certain paradox. The main creator of the tests, author and co-author of intervention programmes dedicated to various groups at increased risk of falling, but also of prevention programmes, experienced several traumatic events himself. In our opinion, knowledge of these events adds credibility to the recommendations contained in the concept of modern preventive medicine. This is, at the same time, the main cognitive and application goal of this work.We begin this study of several cases with an incident where this expert held a judo qualification at first dan level and several years of experience in teaching safe falls to special forces soldiers (according to his own programs taking into account the specifics of military combat in close contact with the enemy and the necessary, intensive exposure of one's own motor skills). This and the other incidents described are a good exemplification of the inevitability of injury due to a fall in certain circumstances of the external environment, regardless of professional preparation in the motor sense (the internal aspect concerning the subject of the action), when either the subject ignores the recommendations of prevention or lacks awareness and imagination that the external circumstances of his action only seemingly do not pose a risk of losing his balance. At the age of 24, during an individual training session (throwing a basketball combined with a jump shot), the floor collapsed under his left leg after landing. He reflexively performed a rear fall. However, a fall directly onto the upper back combined with a cushioning impact with the hands and a roll over the shoulder was impossible. The execution of this elementary safe fall technique was prevented by a “trapped” left leg in the broken floor. Under such external circumstances, overcoming the threat of a left leg injury proved only partially possible due to the professional competence of the collision with the ground due to loss of balance and falling. A sprain near the left ankle joint required immobilisation in a plaster cast for 10 days. The expert ignored medical advice and freed himself from the “plaster boot” after two days, but did not give up his daily walks and motor play with his two-year-old son. Left ankle joint degeneration is a consequence of these omissions and subsequent multiple injuries to this body part.The last incident involving this expert occurred 50 years later, equally paradoxically, as during AHFE 2024, Hawaii, where the achievements of the “Polish School of Safe Falling”, among others, were recommended. The fall in the bathroom, in a seemingly safe outdoor environment, confirms the validity of two universal conclusions: 1) the ability to safely fall under certain circumstances of loss of balance and inevitable collision with a vertical obstacle, although it can minimise negative health effects, the lack of such skills represents a very high risk of even losing one's life in similar situations; 2) the relevance of the most general of agonological rules, namely “the principle of a controlled surrounding” is well exemplified by the events described in this case study.

Keywords: Polish School of Safe Falling, preventive medicine, principle of a controlled surrounding, rear fall

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006481

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