Among the multiple risk factors studied , a reduced performance in balance and gait was consistently associated with falls , while the contribution of single physical and cognitive impairments was variable in different population s. Walking aids , wheelchair characteristics and environmental hazards are significant environmental risk factors .
Falling is a common problem among young patients affected by neurological disorders , although the risk of falling for a specific individual is difficult to predict and the risk of a severe fall-related injury has not yet been established .
IMPLICATION S FOR REHABILITATION Young patients with impaired gait and balance or medium to severe motor disability appear to be at increased risk of falling .
Patients who are relatively independent and still participating in challenging activities have an increased exposure to fall-risk .
Walking aids , wheelchair characteristics and environmental hazards are significant environmental risk factors .
PURPOSE To review systematic ally the literature on fall risk factors for young patients affected by neurological disorders .
The Timed Up and Go test: Predicting falls in ALS
There are few functionally meaningful clinical measures used to guide management of patients with ALS . Falls are common , can be debilitating , and result in increased health care costs . We assessed the performance and ability to predict falls of the  Timed Up and Go ( TUG ) test  , which quantifies walking ability , in a prospect i ve longitudinal study . Thirty‐one patients underwent six monthly TUG , ALSFRS‐R , forced vital capacity , muscle testing ( MMT ) and quality of life assessment s. Linear and generalized linear mixed effects models assessed the associations among variables and ability to predict falls . The increase in TUG time was linear over six months , and TUG time was negatively associated with ALSFRS‐R ( p⩽0.001 ) and MMT scores ( p⩽0.001 ) . The TUG test was the only variable that was associated with the chance of falling ( p = 0.024 ) ; patients with TUG times of 14 s had a 10 % chance of falling during the study . In conclusion , TUG performance declined linearly in this longitudinal study , was correlated with st and ard outcome measures , and predicted falls . The TUG test can guide management of patients with ALS ; a time of 14 s can be used to prompt the recommendation for mobility aids to prevent falls
Among the multiple risk factors studied , a reduced performance in balance and gait was consistently associated with falls , while the contribution of single physical and cognitive impairments was variable in different population s. Walking aids , wheelchair characteristics and environmental hazards are significant environmental risk factors .
Falling is a common problem among young patients affected by neurological disorders , although the risk of falling for a specific individual is difficult to predict and the risk of a severe fall-related injury has not yet been established .
IMPLICATION S FOR REHABILITATION Young patients with impaired gait and balance or medium to severe motor disability appear to be at increased risk of falling .
Patients who are relatively independent and still participating in challenging activities have an increased exposure to fall-risk .
Walking aids , wheelchair characteristics and environmental hazards are significant environmental risk factors .
PURPOSE To review systematic ally the literature on fall risk factors for young patients affected by neurological disorders .