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 .
Falls on a neurorehabilitation unit: reassessment of a prevention program.
We conducted a retrospective case-control study of falls over a four year period on a 30 bed neurorehabilitation unit at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital to characterize the nature of falls and identify factors associated with falling . The most common diagnoses treated on the unit were traumatic spinal cord injury , brain injury , and multiple sclerosis ; stroke patients are treated on another service . Falls represented 72 percent of all incident reports made to the Nursing Office during the study period . One hundred seventeen ( 117 ) falls occurred in 82 patients during a time when the unit census was 28,622 patient days , yielding a rate of 1,439 falls per 1,000 patient years . One hundred fourteen ( 114 ) patients admitted with no history of falling during the same period were selected r and omly for comparison . Most falls were associated with no injury ( n = 96 ) or minor injury ( n = 18 ) . The most significant injuries occurred in three cases with lacerations requiring sutures . Falls occurred with greatest frequency during the first and fourth quartiles of the hospital stay , during the evening and while bed transfers were being performed . No association between falling and patient age , sex , diagnosis , number of medications , use of sedating medications , presence of motor , visual or cognitive impairment or orthostatic hypotension was evident . An increased risk of falling was associated with physician orders for Posey restraints . The implication of these findings for falls prevention programs is discussed
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 .