Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mariana Wingood, Elizabeth Peterson, Christopher Neville, Jennifer L. Vincenzo
Summary: This study developed a screening tool for identifying feet- and footwear-related influences on fall risk among community-dwelling older adults. The tool was evaluated and refined in two phases, resulting in a 20-item screening tool with high face and content validity.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Joe Hollinghurst, Helen Daniels, Richard Fry, Ashley Akbari, Sarah Rodgers, Alan Watkins, Sarah Hillcoat-Nalletamby, Neil Williams, Silviya Nikolova, David Meads, Andy Clegg
Summary: The study found that the Care&Repair Cymru home adaptation service can identify and reduce the likelihood of falls occurring at home in older people. Factors such as female gender, older age, increased frailty, and deprivation increase the risk of falls, while the odds of falling decrease post-intervention.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yurun Cai, Suzanne G. Leveille, Ling Shi, Ping Chen, Tongjian You
Summary: The study found that chronic pain interference and pain distribution in older adults are associated with an increased risk of injurious falls, especially in women. Short-term moderate-to-severe pain also increases the risk of injurious falls in the subsequent month.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jacqueline C. T. Close, Stephen R. Lord
Summary: In the past 50 years, there has been a shift from accepting falls as an inevitable consequence of aging to recognizing the importance of fall prevention. Various studies have identified factors contributing to falls and methods of assessing fall risk. Effective approaches to preventing falls in older individuals include exercise and other targeted interventions. Multiple and multifactorial interventions have been found to be particularly effective for high-risk populations.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Elissa Dabkowski, Simon Cooper, Jhodie R. Duncan, Karen Missen
Summary: This scoping review explores patients' perceptions and experiences of their fall risk and falling in hospitals. The findings highlight the importance of partnering with patients to obtain their insights on fall risk, as many patients do not accurately identify their own risk. The research also identifies a need for further studies on fall risk perception measures.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yurun Cai, Suzanne G. Leveille, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, Jonathan F. Bean, Brad Manor, Robert R. McLean, Tongjian You
Summary: This study found an association between chronic pain and slower foot reaction time in older adults, with pain severity and knee pain being linked to slower foot reaction time. Cognitive measures had little impact on this relationship, and it was only observed in participants with lower education levels. These findings suggest that chronic pain may increase fall risk in older adults by affecting foot reaction time.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yurun Cai, Suzanne G. Leveille, Ling Shi, Ping Chen, Tongjian You
Summary: Chronic pain in older adults is associated with specific circumstances of falls, such as indoor falls in living or dining rooms, and falls due to health problems or feeling dizzy. However, fallers with moderate-to-severe pain are less likely to fall while going down stairs or due to a slip or trip.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Beatrice Pettersson, Saranda Bajraktari, Dawn A. Skelton, Magnus Zingmark, Erik Rosendahl, Lillemor Lundin-Olsson, Marlene Sandlund
Summary: Recruitment via social media is a useful strategy for reaching older adults, especially women and frequent users of the Internet, for a fully self-managed and digital fall prevention exercise intervention. This study underlines that a range of interventions must be available to attract and suit older adults with different functional statuses and digital skills.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jens Eg Norgaard, Martin Gronbech Jorgensen, Jesper Ryg, Jane Andreasen, Mathias Brix Danielsen, Daniel Kjaergaard Steiner, Stig Andersen
Summary: This study found that gait adaptability training (GAT) significantly reduces the number of falls and prevents fall-related fractures in older community dwellers. GAT is a promising and feasible exercise modality, but high-quality studies are needed to support a robust conclusion.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Kamil Kokulu, Abdullah Algin, Serdar Ozdemir, Hatice Seyma Akca
Summary: The study showed that falls from bed in infants can result in minor injuries such as abrasions and bruises, as well as significant injuries like skull fractures and traumatic brain injury. While most patients are treated in the emergency department, 6% of infants require hospitalization mainly due to head injuries. It is recommended to raise awareness among parents and caregivers about these risks, and to utilize safety equipment and create a safe environment to prevent severe injuries.
INJURY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED
(2021)
Article
Nursing
Nancy C. DeWalt, Kenneth A. Stahorsky, Susan Sturges, James F. Bena, Shannon L. Morrison, Laura Drobnich Sulak, Lynn Szczepinski, Nancy M. Albert
Summary: In this study, a randomized controlled design was used to compare the effects of simulation education and written education on fall risk assessment, sustainable risk changes, fall events, and re-hospitalization in older adults. The results showed that patients who received simulation education had higher fall risk assessment scores and greater risk changes compared to those who received written education, but there were no significant differences in fall events and re-hospitalization between the two groups.
CLINICAL NURSING RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Krystal M. Kirby, Sreekrishna Pillai, Robert M. Brouillette, Jeffrey N. Keller, Alyssa N. De Vito, John P. Bernstein, Arend W. A. Van Gemmert, Owen T. Carmichael
Summary: This study found that brain functioning, motor task, and cognitive task performance in challenging dual-task conditions all contribute to the risk of falling among older adults. Multiple factors are involved in determining fall characteristics.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Christian Hentschke, Martin Halle, Barbara Geilhof, Peter Landendoerfer, Wolfgang Blank, Cornel Christian Sieber, Monika Siegrist, Ellen Freiberger
Summary: This study demonstrated that a 4-month multi-component exercise fall prevention program in older community-dwelling persons can significantly reduce the number of falls, injurious falls, and fear of falling over 24 months.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Marije C. Koele, Hanna C. Willems, Karin M. A. Swart, Suzanne C. van Dijk, Paul Lips, Lisette C. P. G. M. de Groot, Tischa J. M. van der Cammen, M. Carola Zillikens, Natasja M. van Schoor, Nathalie van der Velde
Summary: Hyperkyphosis, an increased kyphosis angle of the thoracic spine, was associated with a higher fall incidence in the oldest quartile of a large prospective cohort of community-dwelling older adults. This suggests that hyperkyphosis may be a contributing factor to falls, especially in the oldest age group.
OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Maaike van Gameren, Daniel Bossen, Judith E. Bosmans, Bart Visser, Sanne W. T. Frazer, Mirjam Pijnappels
Summary: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the In Balance fall prevention intervention in community-dwelling older adults in the Netherlands. The study will also provide insight into the impact of the intervention on physical performance, quality of life, societal costs, and other outcomes, ultimately informing healthcare professionals and policy makers on effective fall prevention strategies for older adults.
