title: Perceived cause, environmental factors, and consequences of falls in adults with cerebral palsy: a preliminary mixed methods study.
abstract: Objective. Describe perceived cause, environmental influences, and consequences of falls or near-falls in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods. Adults with CP completed postal surveys and follow-up semistructured interviews. Surveys sought information on demographic data, self-nominated Gross Motor Function Classification Score (GMFCS-E&R), falls, and near-falls. Interviews gathered additional information on falls experiences, near-falls, and physical and psychosocial consequences. Results. Thirty-four adults with CP participated. Thirty-three participants reported at least one fall in the previous year. Twenty-six participants reported near-falls. Most commonly, falls occurred indoors, at home, and whilst engaged in nonhazardous ambulation. Adults with CP experienced adverse falls consequences, lower limb injuries predominant (37%), and descriptions of fear, embarrassment, powerlessness, and isolation. Discussion. Adults with CP may experience injurious falls. Further investigation into the impact of falls on health-related quality of life and effective remediation strategies is warranted to provide comprehensive falls prevention programs for this population.
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia.
authors: Prue
authors: 0000-0002-2573-6562
authors: P
authors: Morgan
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, VIC 3199, Australia.
authors: Rachael
authors: R
authors: McDonald
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: McGinley