Accidental fall
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An accidental fall is defined as a fall "due to slipping or tripping which result in injury".[1]
Falls in the elderly
Causes
Buckling, or sudden giving way, of the knees is associated with osteoarthritis of the knees and quadriceps muscle weakness.[2]
Prevention
One randomized controlled trial reported that tai chi, one hour per week for 16 weeks, can prevent falls in patients aged 60 or more.[3]
A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found benefit among cummunity-dwelling persons from:[4]
- Individually targeted exercise or physical therapy consisting of strength training, balance, and walking.
- Home safety interventions.
- Multidisciplinary, multifactorial, health, or environmental risk-factor screening or intervention programs.
According to a subsequent meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration, the role of modifying the home environment for the reduction of injuries has not been established.[5]
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Accidental Falls. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
- ↑ Felson DT, Niu J, McClennan C, et al (2007). "Knee buckling: prevalence, risk factors, and associated limitations in function". Ann. Intern. Med. 147 (8): 534–40. PMID 17938391. [e]
- ↑ Voukelatos A, Cumming RG, Lord SR, Rissel C (2007). "A randomized, controlled trial of tai chi for the prevention of falls: the Central Sydney tai chi trial". Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 55 (8): 1185–91. DOI:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x. PMID 17661956. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Gillespie LD, Gillespie WJ, Robertson MC, Lamb SE, Cumming RG, Rowe BH (2003). "Interventions for preventing falls in elderly people". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD000340. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD000340. PMID 14583918. Research Blogging. [ACP Journal Club]
- ↑ Lyons RA, John A, Brophy S, et al (2006). "Modification of the home environment for the reduction of injuries". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (4): CD003600. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD003600.pub2. PMID 17054179. Research Blogging.