Peripheral vestibular dysfunction is prevalent in older adults experiencing multiple non-syncopal falls versus age-matched non-fallers: a pilot study

Abstract

vestibular dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in older adult fallers versus non-fallers. Individuals referred to a falls clinic are older, more impaired and report more falls than those referred to a neuro-otology department. A greater awareness of vestibular impairments may lead to more effective management and treatment for older adult fallers.

Feasibility and effect of supplementing a modified OTAGO intervention with multisensory balance exercises in older people who fall: a pilot randomized controlled trial

“…31 Although these are non-specific symptoms and may be due to multiple pathologies (i.e. anxiety, orthostatic hypotension), it is plausible some of our patients had an undiagnosed vestibular disorder.…”

Novel Use of Optokinetic Chart Stimulation with a One -Off Epley’s Manouvre in a Bed-Ridden, Difficult to Rehabilitate, Care of the Elderly Patient with Undiagnosed BPPV: A Case Report

“…The evidence base is so strong in showing that 80 per cent of elderly patients presenting to accident and emergency with unexplained falls have vestibular impairment [1]. Elderly patients presenting with multiple falls not caused by syncope have peripheral vestibular impairment in 80 per cent of fallers [2]. Use of cost -effective and evidence based interventions such as Epley's manoeuvre [5] and up-coming interventions such as optokinetic chart stimulation [9,10] is recommended to reduce costly unrecognised vestibular impairment in elderly patients.…”

“…Older patients presenting with multiple falls not caused by syncope have peripheral vestibular impairment in 80 percent of fallers [2]. Unrecognised BPPV leads to activity limitations, falls and depression [3].…”

Effects of Lifting and Lateral Transferring on Balance in Community-Dwelling Elders

“…[3] A case-control study in the UK, in a sample of 56 adults, found that the prevalence of vestibular impairment in older adults who fall was 80%, compared with 19% in age-matched non-fallers. [4] But there are some proposed adaptations that may then reduce the incidence of falls. [5,6,7,8,9] According to Gutman et al [10] , balance is when "all the forces acting on the body are balanced in such a way that the center of mass (COM) is within the limits of stability (LOS)".…”