An epidemiological study of falls in older community‐dwelling women: the Randwick falls and fractures study

Abstract

: Seven hundred and four women aged between 65 and 99 years (mean age 74.6 years), who were randomly selected from the community, took part in a study to determine whether health and lifestyle factors were associated with falls. In the 12 months before the survey, 66.1 per cent of the subjects experienced no falls, 19.7 per cent fell once and 14.2 per cent fell on two or more occasions. The proportion of women who fell outside the home decreased with age, with a corresponding increase in the proportion who fell inside the home on a level surface. The most common causes of falls reported were trips, slips and loss of balance. Some (27 per cent) suffered injuries as a result of a fall, and the proportion suffering injuries increased with age. Those who rated their health and balance as impaired, those with a limitation in activities of daily living, those receiving community services, those taking psychoactive drugs, and those taking four or more drugs had significantly more falls. On the other hand, those taking part in planned exercise and those active for seven or more hours per week had fewer falls. Smoking and alcohol consumption were not significantly associated with falls. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed poor vision, inactivity and subjective fall risk as variables that were independently and significantly associated with falling. These findings highlight possible intervention strategies for reducing falls risk in older people.

The effect of muscle fatigue on the last stride before stepping down a curb

“…Problems with transitions between levels in gait, such as when stepping from a curb, are common causes of falls [1][2][3]. In level walking, muscle fatigue destabilizes motor control and consequently increases variability and decreases the stability [4] of gait.…”

Exercise of mechanisms of dynamic stability improves the stability state after an unexpected gait perturbation in elderly

“…Individuals have increasing problems with balance and tend to fall more often as they grow older (Lord et al 1993). Therefore, fall-related injuries in the elderly population are an important economic as well as social problem (Blake et al 1988;Tinetti et al 1988;Etman et al 2012).…”

Monitoring of Human Movements for Fall Detection and Activities Recognition in Elderly Care Using Wireless Sensor Network: a Survey

“…Usually women fall in the kitchen whereas men fall in the garden (Lord et al, 1993). The rate of falls increases significantly among elderly people living in nursing homes: at least 40% of the patients fell twice or more within 6 months.…”