Accidental fall
An accidental fall is defined as a fall "due to slipping or tripping which results in injury".[1]
Falls in the elderly
At least a third of persons aged 65 years or more fall each year, with 10% leading to injury.[2]
Assessing risk
The presence of various medical conditions and the results of functional tests can assess the risk of falling.[3]
Causes
Buckling, or sudden giving way, of the knees is associated with osteoarthritis of the knees and quadriceps muscle weakness.[4]
Medications, especially psychotropic[5] and cardiac[6] are associated with increased risk of falling.
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.[7]
A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found benefit among cummunity-dwelling persons from:[8]
- 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.[9]
Withdrawing psychotropics mediations may prevent falls.[10][11]
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Accidental Falls. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
- ↑ Tinetti ME (2003). "Clinical practice. Preventing falls in elderly persons". N. Engl. J. Med. 348 (1): 42–9. DOI:10.1056/NEJMcp020719. PMID 12510042. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Thurman DJ, Stevens JA, Rao JK (2008). "Practice parameter: Assessing patients in a neurology practice for risk of falls (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology". Neurology 70 (6): 473–9. DOI:10.1212/01.wnl.0000299085.18976.20. PMID 18250292. Research Blogging.
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ Leipzig RM, Cumming RG, Tinetti ME (1999). "Drugs and falls in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis: I. Psychotropic drugs". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 47 (1): 30–9. PMID 9920227. [e]
- ↑ Leipzig RM, Cumming RG, Tinetti ME (1999). "Drugs and falls in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis: II. Cardiac and analgesic drugs". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 47 (1): 40–50. PMID 9920228. [e]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Campbell AJ, Robertson MC, Gardner MM, Norton RN, Buchner DM (1999). "Psychotropic medication withdrawal and a home-based exercise program to prevent falls: a randomized, controlled trial". J Am Geriatr Soc 47 (7): 850–3. PMID 10404930. [e]
- ↑ Campbell AJ, Robertson MC (2007). "Rethinking individual and community fall prevention strategies: a meta-regression comparing single and multifactorial interventions". Age Ageing 36 (6): 656–62. DOI:10.1093/ageing/afm122. PMID 18056731. Research Blogging.