Falls, Joints, Bone Health

Try balancing on one leg with your eyes closed - tricky isn’t it? We know that we need the right input from the visual, proprioceptive and somatosensory systems to stay on our feet

Evidence has shown 30% of the population of older people who live in the community fall at least once per year, 10% of these falls result in a serious injury. 

Between 47 - 90 per cent of people with dementia fall at least once a year. After a fall, they are less likely to recover well, more likely to be hospitalised, are hospitalised for longer and are more likely to require increased care. Louise Allan examines the care received by these patients.

Whenever Professor Karen Middleton sees the Rehab Matters film she knows that the fictional story depicted is playing out in real life in homes across the country. It cuts her deeply, as a physiotherapist, to hear how a lack of access to rehabilitation has changed a life.

Osteoporotic fragility fractures are estimated to cost the UK £2 billion a year. This includes the cost of acute hospital stay, rehabilitation and social care. Only a very small proportion of this is invested in pharmacological management and secondary prevention of osteoporosis.

Falls are a major cause of disability and mortality for older people and the problem is likely to increase with an ageing population. Other consequences range from distress, pain, injury and loss of confidence to complete loss of independence. Dr Kawa Amin shows how simulation training can help staff deal with falls better.

Debra Quartermaine enthuses about two pilot projects involving weekly dance and movement sessions run on elderly care, stroke rehabilitation and neuro-rehabilitation wards. They enhanced wellbeing and health of older patients through supporting increased movement, more positive moods, and greater socialisation.

Vertebral fragility fractures have received much attention lately. There is growing literature to support how well vertebral fragility fractures predict future fractures, morbidity and risk of mortality. What is lacking is research exploring the specific cohort of people with vertebral fractures who are admitted to hospital.

Jess Walter looks at the danger of hip fractures in women and the increased risk that older women have of experiencing osteoporosis, and what can be done.