Why should clinical practitioners ask about their patients' concerns about falling?

Ellmers TJ, Freiberger E, Hauer K, Hogan DB, McGarrigle L, Lim ML, Todd C, Martin F, Delbaere K (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Age and Ageing Oxford University Press

Book Volume: 52

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad057

Abstract

Concerns (or 'fears') about falling (CaF) are common in older adults. As part of the 'World Falls Guidelines Working Group on Concerns about Falling', we recommended that clinicians working in falls prevention services should regularly assess CaF. Here, we expand upon these recommendations and argue that CaF can be both 'adaptive' and 'maladaptive' with respect to falls risk. On the one hand, high CaF can lead to overly cautious or hypervigilant behaviours that increase the risk of falling, and may also cause undue activity restriction ('maladaptive CaF'). But concerns can also encourage individuals to make appropriate modifications to their behaviour to maximise safety ('adaptive CaF'). We discuss this paradox and argue that high CaF-irrespective of whether 'adaptive' or 'maladaptive'-should be considered an indication that 'something is not right', and that is represents an opportunity for clinical engagement. We also highlight how CaF can be maladaptive in terms of inappropriately high confidence about one's balance. We present different routes for clinical intervention based on the types of concerns disclosed.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ellen Freiberger Professur für Klinische Ernährung im Alter

Additional Organisation(s)

FAU Profilzentrum Licht.Materie.Quantentechnologien (FAU LMQ)

Involved external institutions

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Neuroscience Research Australia NeuRA AU Australia (AU) University of Manchester GB United Kingdom (GB) Imperial College London / The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Calgary CA Canada (CA)

How to cite

APA:

Ellmers, T.J., Freiberger, E., Hauer, K., Hogan, D.B., McGarrigle, L., Lim, M.L.,... Delbaere, K. (2023). Why should clinical practitioners ask about their patients' concerns about falling? Age and Ageing, 52(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afad057

MLA:

Ellmers, Toby Jack, et al. "Why should clinical practitioners ask about their patients' concerns about falling?" Age and Ageing 52.4 (2023).

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