Metabolic Syndrome and Fall Risk

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are rapidly growing problems. Individuals with the MetS are at risk for not only future chronic diseases, but they have a higher prevalence of neuropathy, including cardiac autonomic neuropathy, and have a higher incidence of falls. Currently there are no effective therapies to prevent or reverse the neuropathy seen in the MetS or to reduced the fall risk in this population. This research project will determine if a tailored balance exercise program will have functional benefits and result in a reduced fall risk in the growing population of patients with the MetS and neuropathy.