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 .
Functional abilities, incidences of complications and falls of patients with spinal cord injury 6 months after discharge
Study design : A prospect i ve study . Objectives : To evaluate the changes of functional abilities , incidences of complications and falls of patients with spinal cord injury ( SCI ) 6 months after discharge . Setting : A major tertiary referral hospital , Thail and . Methods : Forty-four patients with SCI completed the study . Their average age and post-injury time were 45.23±13.78 years and 51.52±47.87 months respectively .  Functional abilities of the subjects were measured by using the  Spinal Cord Independence Measure II ( SCIM II ) . Incidences of complications and falls were prospect ively assessed every month by using a question naire . Results : After 6 months , the SCIM II scores of subjects showed a slight decrease ( 58.60±21.22–58.37±22.06 scores ) . The significant decrement was illustrated in self-care and mobility scores of subjects with chronic motor incomplete SCI ( P<0.05 ) . Forty subjects experienced at least one medical complication ( range 1–5 times ) which 11 of them had to re-admit for 3–30 days . Twenty-four subjects sustained at least one fall in 6 months ( range 1–24 times ) which one subject had metatarsal bone fracture after fall . Conclusion : The functional ability of subjects with SCI , particularly those with chronic motor incomplete SCI , significantly decreased after discharge . The subjects also encountered a high risk of complications and falls that might associate with the decrement of functional ability . The findings confirmed important roles of community rehabilitation after discharge
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 .