Falls among Older Adults: Screening, Identification, Rehabilitation, and Management

Abstract

A fall is an event where a person unintentionally and traumatically finds themselves on the floor or a lower level. Falls are very common, especially in the older adult population. One in four people falls at least once a year after age 65. Because of falls, there can be injuries, whereby there can be an impairment of health status. Fractures, reduced mobility, disability, and the need for institutionalization are potential consequences after falls. In older adult patients, especially frail ones, these types of complications are more common. There are several risk factors for falls. Falls generally result from a combination of factors operating simultaneously. Sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, or poly-pharmacotherapy are just a few examples of risk factors that are common in the older people. Through careful clinical evaluation, it is possible to identify risk factors and conditions predisposing to falls. In some cases, it is possible to correct these factors. Several types of treatment are available to restore the health status before the fall and prevent subsequent falls. Using multi-component interventions, the risk of falls can be effectively reduced. Aware that this review will not be exhaustive of such a broad topic, the purpose of this narrative review is to summarize relevant and recent evidence in the current literature to encapsulate fall-related risk factors, risk identification, fall prevention, and management, including various rehabilitation techniques. This article conforms to the Scale for Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines.

RObotic-Assisted Rehabilitation for balance and gait in Stroke patients (ROAR-S): study protocol for a preliminary randomized controlled trial

“…Motor recovery is essential in patients with stoke outcome [4,5]; especially in older adults, a recovery of smoother, safer, and more correct walking is an essential requirement to allow the patient to be autonomous in the activities of daily living; trunk control and lower limb motor control are an essential outcome in stroke rehabilitation to prevent falls [6][7][8]. This is particularly important in this fragile population characterized by multimorbidity, polymedication, and nutritional deficit [9][10][11].…”

The Use of Sports Rehabilitation Robotics to Assist in the Recovery of Physical Abilities in Elderly Patients with Degenerative Diseases: A Literature Review

“…Due to the declining physical ability of the elderly, the process of motor rehabilitation usually requires a significant amount of time and a conducive environment to achieve the desired levels of rehabilitation; however, there is a shortage of rehabilitation nursing staff who are able to provide round-the-clock care, thus, the cost of such rehabilitation is high. This expense and scarcity of care has led to further significant challenges for China's health and social systems in meeting the rehabilitation needs of its elderly population [6,7]. Consequently, the demand for sports rehabilitation robots in the medical rehabilitation field is increasing.…”

The Influence of Knee Extensor and Ankle Plantar Flexor Strength on Single-Leg Standing Balance in Older Women

“…The prevalence of falls increased with age, and females had a higher prevalence of falls than males [ 3 ]. Falls are a significant problem among older individuals and can result in various physical, psychological, and social problems, including injuries, fear of falling, reduced mobility, depression and anxiety, social isolation, and increased healthcare costs [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Comprehending how muscle strength affects balance during a single stance can aid in designing targeted and more effective fall prevention interventions.…”