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 .
Wheelchair-related falls in veterans with spinal cord injury residing in the community: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVES ( 1 ) To determine the incidence of wheelchair falls and fall-related injuries in persons with spinal cord injury ( SCI ) living in the community . ( 2 ) To predict wheelchair-related falls and associated injuries from specific parameters including characteristics of the wheelchair user , wheelchair type and features , health care practice s , wheelchair activities , and physical environment . DESIGN This prospect i ve cohort study followed participants monthly over 1 year ; data were collected through surveys , interviews , performance testing , observation , and medical records . SETTING Three Veterans ' Administration hospitals . PARTICIPANTS Convenience sample of community-dwelling persons with SCI who used a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility ( N=702 ) . INTERVENTIONS Not applicable . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES  Self-reports of wheelchair falls and fall-related injuries , Wheelchair User Characteristics Survey , Health Status Checklist , Health-Related Behaviors , Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale , Wheelchair and Equipment-Related Behaviors , Wheelchair Characteristics , Wheelchair Skills Test , and Physical Environment Assessment .  RESULTS Of the 659 subjects who completed the study , 204 participants ( 31 % ) reported 553 fall events , and 95 subjects ( 14 % ) were injured as a result of wheelchair falls . A logistic regression model for predicting wheelchair falls identified 6 significant risk factors : pain in previous 2 months , alcohol abuse , greater motor function , history of previous fall , fewer SCI years , and shorter length of wheelchair . Eighty-two percent of the variance for wheelchair fall events was explained by these 6 variables . A logistic regression model for predicting injurious falls identified 4 significant risk factors : pain in previous 2 months , greater motor function , history of previous fall , and inaccessible home entrance . These 4 factors were able to explain 81 % of the variance for injurious falls . CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to determine the incidence of wheelchair-related falls in community-dwelling people with SCI who use a wheelchair . Results indicate the incidence of falls was 31 % and injurious falls was 14 % . Those at greatest risk can be predicted from some readily available information regarding their clinical status , wheelchair features , and home environment
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 .