[Muscle and bone health as a risk factor of fall among the elderly. Fear of falling and the post-fall syndrome].
Fear of falling and the post-fall syndrome (fear-related activity restriction) are serious psychological symptoms associated with falls. This paper reported the definition and prevalence of fear of falling. Prevalence has yielded highly varying estimates due to the various definitions and instruments used to measure fear. Correlates of fear of falling by a longitudinal study were also described. As most of the research on fear of falling has been cross-sectional, more longitudinal studies are needed. As to the post-fall syndrome, definition and prevalence among community-dwelling elderly was discussed. It is difficult to measure general prevalence due to the lack of solid criteria of this syndrome.
Graduate school of Obirin University, Department of Gerontology.
Naoakira
N
Niino
Yukiko
Y
Nishita
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome