Fear Of Falling And Its Consequences: The Current Situation

Fear of falling is common in elderly people and seems easy to define at first. In fact, a large variation in terms and criteria is found in studies and its mechanisms are not really understood. A review of recent literature clearly reveals some defining points: prevalence rates of between 29 and 92% amongst fallers; a wide range of causes and complex links between fear of falling, anxiety and depression; the impact of fear of falling on social standing and quality of life. The great number of different scales for assessing fear of falling shows how difficult it is to describe the process with accuracy, but recent short versions of these scales make fear of falling easier to measure. Finally, mixed management, incorporating both education and physical training, has had demonstrable success in overcoming the fear itself. In conclusion, fear of falling must be assessed with precision and this psychological dimension must be taken into consideration in order to avoid the restriction of activity and social withdrawal with which it is associated.