Fall prevention
Fall prevention includes any action taken to help reduce the number of accidental falls suffered by susceptible individuals, such as the elderly and people with neurological (Parkinson's, Multiple sclerosis, stroke survivors, Guillain-Barre, traumatic brain injury, incomplete spinal cord injury) or orthopedic (lower limb or spinal column fractures or arthritis, post-surgery, joint replacement, lower limb amputation, soft tissue injuries) indications.
Physical activity is important for older adults because it plays a major role in limiting the loss of muscle mass and strength, while also stimulating postural control.
[10] Having a resistance training regimen that includes challenging balance workouts for three or more hours per week results in a lesser chance of falling.
[11] Resistance training has been shown to be beneficial beyond fall prevention, as it also helps improve functional mobility and activities of daily living such as walking endurance, gait speed, and stair climbing.
[12][13] Specialized facilities and programs like seniors' parks can support to keep the elderly in shape and increase their resistance to falling.
[16] Other forms of training, such as aerobic, anaerobic, and proprioceptive exercises can also be used to increase balance to lower the risk of falls in the elderly population.
[20] Environmental modifications, like improving lighting, removing tripping hazards, and repairing uneven surfaces, further contribute to fall prevention.
Addressing these hazards within everyday settings helps make interventions practical and accessible, empowering older adults to actively engage in improving their stability and reducing fall risks.
[24] Important improvements to prevent falls include handrails and grab bars, which should be easy to grip or grasp and should be near any stairs or change in floor level.
[28] Challenges for falls prevention include such as transportation barriers, gaps in care continuity, and the need for sustained support for frail individuals.
Long-term, sustainable fall-prevention programs benefit from partnerships between healthcare providers, caregivers, and community resources, helping to maintain independence and enhance quality of life for older adults.
These efforts not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce the broader strain on healthcare systems, highlighting the societal value of comprehensive, community-based fall-prevention interventions.
[29] Questions around effectiveness of current approaches (physical exercise and multifactorial interventions) have been found in multiple settings, including long-term care facilities and hospitals.
[1] In older adults, physical training and perturbation therapy is directed to improving balance recovery responses and preventing falls.
They represent a common concern for hospital staff and can cause a variety of injuries from minor to major and induce anxiety and a fear of falling.
These multi-factorial interventions can include improved nurse handover procedures, addressing the reaction time to call buttons, exercise therapies, hip protectors and safe footwear among others.
[39][40] Other preventative measures with positive effects include strength and balance training, home risk assessment,[24] the withdrawal of psychotropic medication, cardiac pacing for those with carotid sinus hypersensitivity, and tai chi.
The introduction of semi-immersive virtual reality simulation during treadmill training might help the elderly to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.
[43][44] Bifocal spectacles and trifocal eyeglasses are used to provide refractory correction ideal for reading (12–24 inches (30–60 cm) when the wearer looks downward through them.
[72] Basophobia and its related activity avoidance among the elderly may lead to a vicious cycle of falls and functional impairment.
Many strategies include the participation in community and home-based exercise programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, meditation, and practicing good sleep hygiene.
[73] Restriction of these activities could lead to muscle weakness, postural instability, deconditioning and a higher prevalence of falls.
Accidents are the most common cause of falls involving healthy adults, which may be the result of tripping on stairs, improper footwear, dark surroundings, slippery surfaces, uneven ground, or lack of exercise.
