## 1 Introduction  
Falls are a significant public health issue, as they greatly affect quality of life [1] and represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality [2]. About 30% of adults aged 65 and over have been experiencing falls each year [3, 4]. Between 2010 and 2018, Portugal reported 383,016 fall-related hospital admissions, accounting for 2.1% of total hospitalizations during that period [5]. Identifying individuals at risk requires a multifactorial assessment [1], with early intervention relying on brief fall risk screening to estimate an individual's likelihood of falling and to determine the need for a more comprehensive evaluation [3, 6]. A thorough fall risk assessment should consider various factors, including fall history, fear of falling,medical conditions, medication use, environmental hazards, and functional abilities such as gait, lower limb muscle strength, balance, and mobility [4,7]. [PERSON] et al. [8] highlighted that only a small proportion of falls result from a single, identifiable cause. Consequently, fall ethology is widely recognized as multifactorial, encompassing intrinsic (patient-related) and extrinsic (environmental) factors, as well as activity-related variables [9]. Previous research has shown that extrinsic precipitating factors account for approximately 41-55% of falls among community-dwelling older adults and around 16% among those residing in nursing homes. In contrast, intrinsic factors contribute to 39-53% of falls in community-dwelling older adults and up to 80% of falls in nursing home residents [10,11]. Intrinsic factors originate within the individual and include variables such as age, sex, and age-related physiological changes, including visual and auditory impairments, balance disorders, increased fat mass, decreased muscle mass, fear of falling, and a history of previous falls. Additionally, chronic conditions such as stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and heart failure are significant intrinsic contributors. Conversely, extrinsic factors involve external elements, such as environmental hazards (e.g., slippery surfaces, inadequate lighting, or uneven flooring), which play a crucial role in fall incidents. Studies indicate that these extrinsic factors are responsible for 30% to 50% of falls among older adults [12]. A comprehensive understanding of both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors underscores the complexity of falls in aging populations and highlights the need for targeted prevention strategies. The history of falls is a significant risk factor, as older adults who have suffered one or more falls are three times more likely to fall again in the following year compared with those without a history of falls [13,14]. Additionally, fear of falling is a significant risk factor. Defined as concern about falls, it often causes individuals to avoid activities they are still able to perform [15] and is associated with an increased risk of functional decline [16]. This decline, particularly in lower limb muscle strength, can lead to dependence on the upper limbs for assistance when rising from a chair [17]. Among individuals who have suffered a recent fall, up to 70% report a fear of falling and of these, 50% may limit physical or social activity, further increasing the risk of falling [12]. Additionally, certain health conditions--such as hypertension, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, and visual impairment--also contribute to a significant increase in the risk of falling [18]. Medications are frequently linked to a higher likelihood of falls [19], and it is widely acknowledged that the risk of falling rises with the number of medications used, with individuals taking four or more medications (polypharmacy) being at a particularly elevated risk [20]. Moreover, significant associations have been identified between falls and the use of sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepipines [19,21,22]. The literature highlights the importance of identifying and mitigating environmental hazards [7,23].