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 .
Balance, executive functions and falls in elderly with Alzheimer's disease (AD): a longitudinal study.
Elderly individuals with AD are more susceptible to falls , which might be associated with decrements in their executive functions and balance , among other things . We aim ed to analyze the effects of a program of dual task physical activity on falls , executive functions and balance of elderly individuals with AD . We studied 21 elderly with probable AD , allocated to two groups : the training group ( TG ) , with 10 elderly who participated in a program of dual task physical activity ; and the control group ( CG ) , with 11 elderly who were not engaged in regular practice of physical activity .  The  Clock Drawing Test ( CDT ) and the Frontal Assessment Battery ( FAB ) were used in the assessment of the executive functions , while the  Berg Balance Scale ( BBS ) and the Timed Up- and -Go (TUG)-test evaluated balance . The number of falls was obtained by means of a question naire . We observed a better performance of the TG as regards balance and executive functions . Moreover , the lower the number of steps in the TUG scale , the higher the scores in the CDT , and in the FAB . The practice of regular physical activity with dual task seems to have contributed to the maintenance and improvement of the motor and cognitive functions of the elderly with AD
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 .