Peterson EW, Ben Ari E, Asano M, Finlayson ML. Fall Attributions among Middle Aged and Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Nov. [Epub ahead of print]
OBJECTIVES: (1) To explore the falls attributions of middle aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), and (2) to examine the personal, health and MS-related factors associated with the three most common attributions.
DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study using data collected through a telephone interview. Falls attributions were obtained through an open-ended question to elicit participants' stories about their most recent fall.
SETTING: United States PARTICIPANTS: Recruitment was done through a national volunteer MS registry. Three hundred and fifty-four people who were ≥55 years of age were interviewed; 313 provided a falls story. Respondents were primarily married, community-dwelling women who had been living with MS for 21 years, on average.
RESULTS: A total of 14 falls attributions were identified. The most common were balance (41.5%), lower extremity malfunction (31.0%) and assistive technology (AT) (29.7%). Falls control was significantly associated with the balance attribution (OR = 0.51, CI = 0.29-0.88), no variables were associated with lower extremity malfunction attribution, and use of multiple mobility devices was significantly associated with the AT attribution (OR = 3.78, 95% CI = 2.09-6.85)
OBJECTIVES: (1) To explore the falls attributions of middle aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS), and (2) to examine the personal, health and MS-related factors associated with the three most common attributions.
DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study using data collected through a telephone interview. Falls attributions were obtained through an open-ended question to elicit participants' stories about their most recent fall.
SETTING: United States PARTICIPANTS: Recruitment was done through a national volunteer MS registry. Three hundred and fifty-four people who were ≥55 years of age were interviewed; 313 provided a falls story. Respondents were primarily married, community-dwelling women who had been living with MS for 21 years, on average.
RESULTS: A total of 14 falls attributions were identified. The most common were balance (41.5%), lower extremity malfunction (31.0%) and assistive technology (AT) (29.7%). Falls control was significantly associated with the balance attribution (OR = 0.51, CI = 0.29-0.88), no variables were associated with lower extremity malfunction attribution, and use of multiple mobility devices was significantly associated with the AT attribution (OR = 3.78, 95% CI = 2.09-6.85)
CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the complex nature of falls among middle-aged and older adults with MS and point to the need for comprehensive fall prevention interventions for this population.
More fluffy science but imbalance is a cause of falls
Remember Prof G says "If you are falling ask your MS nurse, neurologist or general practitioner for advise and have your bone density checked. To do this you need to have a DEXA scan. MSers have a higher chance of having osteopaenia or thin bones, which is a risk factor for fractures."