The recent application of magnetic stimulation in rehabilitation is often said to solve key drawbacks of the established electrical method. Magnetic fields cause less pain, allow principally a better penetration of inhomogeneous biologic tissue and do not require skin contact. However, in most studies the evoked muscle force has been disappointing. In this paper, a comparison of a classical round circular geometry, a commercial muscle-stimulation coil and a novel design is presented, with special emphasis on the physical field properties. These systems show markedly different force responses for the same magnetic energy and highlight the enormous potential of different coil geometries. The new design resulted in a slope of the force recruiting curve being more than two and a half times higher than the other coils. The data were analyzed with respect to the underlying physical causes and field conditions. After a parameter-extraction approach, the results for the three coils span a two-dimensional space with clearly distinguishable degrees of freedom, which can be manipulated nearly separately and reflect the two main features of a field; the peak amplitude and its decay with the distance.

Falls have been identified as a major risk factor for disability. There is an increasing risk of falls and fall-related injuries in the elderly due to a decline in mobility and due to multimorbidity. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors lead to falls with and without syncope. Among nursing-home residents intrinsic factors are the main cause of falls, whereas community-dwelling elderly are more likely to fall because of environment (extrinsic) factors. Assessment of falls must be detailed, multidimensional and function-orientated, and aimed at identifying the causes of the index fall and risk-factors for further falls. As the risk of falling increases linearly with the number of abnormalities contributing to decreased mobility (mental status, mood, decline in sensory inputs, neurological and musculosceletal affections), identifying all risk factors increases the chance of successful intervention. Prevention of fall-related sequalae and further falls is the major goal of therapy. Primary prevention should be included in the scope of future strategies. The basis of successful intervention is fall-assessment, risk-factor assessment, causative therapy, if possible, as well as individually adapted function-orientated therapy programs, and, if at all possible, endurance and resistance training.