Falls are one of the most common causes of TBI. Older adults are most at risk, specifically those who are 75 years of age and older. With increasing aging, the number of injuries are also expected to grow. The exact costs that arise due to fall accidents worldwide are difficult to measure because of the lack of reliable statistics in many countries. However, it is known that falls among elderly in the US are estimated to $50 billion in medical costs annually. By working preventively, for example by laying Propretec floors in hospitals and in elderly care, there are large cost savings to be made for the public sector.
In addition to fall accidents among the elderly, recurring injuries to the skull at leisure and sports account for a large part of all injuries. It is well known that many repeated hits to the skull can lead to serious brain damage, not least from boxing. But fewer people are aware that for example, concussions account for up to 27 percent of all injuries in professional soccer. Concussions are common in many more sports, ranging from rugby to American football, hockey, and horseback riding. This is noticeable not least through the congresses initiated by the WHO, IOC, FIFA, and the International Ice Hockey Federation. This shows how critical it is to keep developing innovations that prevent injuries and benefit the population to live a more sustainable and active life.
