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Falls and Falls prevention

Key facts from the World Health Organisation (WHO):

  • Falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide.

  • Each year an estimated 646 000 individuals die from falls globally of which over 80% are in low- and middle-income countries.

  • Adults older than 65 years of age suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.

  • 37.3 million falls that are severe enough to require medical attention occur each year.

  • Prevention strategies should emphasize education, training, creating safer environments, prioritizing fall-related research and establishing effective policies to reduce risk.

 

 

Prevention is the key!

Fall prevention strategies should be comprehensive, multifaceted and multimodal. 

Effective fall prevention programmes aim to reduce the number of people who fall, the rate of falls and the severity of injury should a fall occur.

 

For older individuals, fall prevention programmes can include a number of components to identify and modify risk, such as:

  • screening and if positve risk identified assessments within living environments for risks for falls;

  • clinical interventions to identify risk factors, such as medication review and modification, treatment of low blood pressure, vitamin D and calcium supplementation if found to be reduced, treatment of correctable visual impairment;

  • prescription of appropriate assistive devices to address physical and sensory impairments;

  • muscle strengthening and balance retraining prescribed by a trained health professional;

  • community-based group programmes which may incorporate fall prevention education and Tai Chi-type exercises or dynamic balance and strength training;

  • use of hip protectors for those at risk of a hip fracture due to a fall.

Global Rehabilitation Network

  • We provide a complete program of instructions on how to conservatively prevent falls.

  • We provide a global network of therapists that can chat remotely via our Telehealth services to guide you through the process week by week for minimal cost.

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