Falls in patients with neuromuscular disorders.
We monitored the incidence and consequences of falls during a 3-month follow-up in 66 patients with a variety of neuromuscular disorders and in 44 age-matched controls. Patients fell more often than controls (27% versus 5%). Falls frequently caused injuries (minor in 79% of subjects and major in 5%) and were often accompanied by fear of falling (58%) and reduced activities (48%). We conclude that falling is a clinically important problem in patients with neuromuscular disorders.
Pieterse
A J
AJ
Research Centre for Allied Health Care, department of Physical Therapy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Luttikhold
T B
TB
de Laat
K
K
Bloem
B R
BR
van Engelen
B G
BG
Munneke
M
M
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data