Accidental fall: Difference between revisions

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imported>Robert Badgett
imported>Robert Badgett
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Buckling, or sudden giving way, of the knees is associated with [[osteoarthritis]] of the knees and [[quadriceps]] muscle weakness.<ref name="pmid17938391">{{cite journal |author=Felson DT, Niu J, McClennan C, ''et al'' |title=Knee buckling: prevalence, risk factors, and associated limitations in function |journal=Ann. Intern. Med. |volume=147 |issue=8 |pages=534–40 |year=2007 |pmid=17938391 |doi=|url=http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/147/8/534}}</ref>
Buckling, or sudden giving way, of the knees is associated with [[osteoarthritis]] of the knees and [[quadriceps]] muscle weakness.<ref name="pmid17938391">{{cite journal |author=Felson DT, Niu J, McClennan C, ''et al'' |title=Knee buckling: prevalence, risk factors, and associated limitations in function |journal=Ann. Intern. Med. |volume=147 |issue=8 |pages=534–40 |year=2007 |pmid=17938391 |doi=|url=http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/147/8/534}}</ref>


====Treatment====
====Prevention====
One [[randomized controlled trial]] reported that [[tai chi]], one hour per week for 16 weeks, can prevent falls in patients aged 60 or more.<ref name="pmid17661956">{{cite journal |author=Voukelatos A, Cumming RG, Lord SR, Rissel C |title=A randomized, controlled trial of tai chi for the prevention of falls: the Central Sydney tai chi trial |journal=Journal of the American Geriatrics Society |volume=55 |issue=8 |pages=1185–91 |year=2007 |pmid=17661956 |doi=10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x}}</ref>
One [[randomized controlled trial]] reported that [[tai chi]], one hour per week for 16 weeks, can prevent falls in patients aged 60 or more.<ref name="pmid17661956">{{cite journal |author=Voukelatos A, Cumming RG, Lord SR, Rissel C |title=A randomized, controlled trial of tai chi for the prevention of falls: the Central Sydney tai chi trial |journal=Journal of the American Geriatrics Society |volume=55 |issue=8 |pages=1185–91 |year=2007 |pmid=17661956 |doi=10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x}}</ref>



Revision as of 06:56, 17 October 2007

An accidental fall is defined as a fall "due to slipping or tripping which result in injury".[1]

Falls in the elderly

Causes

Buckling, or sudden giving way, of the knees is associated with osteoarthritis of the knees and quadriceps muscle weakness.[2]

Prevention

One randomized controlled trial reported that tai chi, one hour per week for 16 weeks, can prevent falls in patients aged 60 or more.[3]

A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found benefit among cummunity-dwelling persons from:[4]

  • Individually targeted exercise or physical therapy consisting of strength training, balance, and walking.
  • Home safety interventions.
  • Multidisciplinary, multifactorial, health, or environmental risk-factor screening or intervention programs.

According to a subsequent meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration, the role of modifying the home environment for the reduction of injuries has not been established.[5]

References

  1. Accidental Falls. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
  2. Felson DT, Niu J, McClennan C, et al (2007). "Knee buckling: prevalence, risk factors, and associated limitations in function". Ann. Intern. Med. 147 (8): 534–40. PMID 17938391[e]
  3. Voukelatos A, Cumming RG, Lord SR, Rissel C (2007). "A randomized, controlled trial of tai chi for the prevention of falls: the Central Sydney tai chi trial". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 55 (8): 1185–91. DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x. PMID 17661956. Research Blogging.
  4. Gillespie LD, Gillespie WJ, Robertson MC, Lamb SE, Cumming RG, Rowe BH (2003). "Interventions for preventing falls in elderly people". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD000340. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD000340. PMID 14583918. Research Blogging. [ACP Journal Club]
  5. Lyons RA, John A, Brophy S, et al (2006). "Modification of the home environment for the reduction of injuries". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD003600. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003600.pub2. PMID 17054179. Research Blogging.