The fear of falling can ironically lead to more falls among the elderly, according to new research.
Gait disturbances, or difficulty walking as a result of old age, often have many causes, according to the researchers from the Neurological Hospital and Health Center of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Germany.
These can include visual defects, neurodegeneration of the motor cortex, taking medication or drinking alcohol, and anxiety over falls.
Those elderly individuals who are afraid of falling typically restrict their own movements, inadvertently worsening the physical conditions they may have, and contributing to a greater risk of falls.
The prevalence of anxiety-related gait disturbances in elderly patients could be as high as 85%, according to the report.
Read the full report here: http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/archiv/pdf.asp?id=74599
You always have to knock on wood!
Most elderly people would rather walk and fall then use a walker or wheel chair and not fall.
My grand father was the same way. Didn’t use his cane when he walked out to the mail box… Stepped on a rock and fell and broke his hip… All because he didn’t want to take his cane with him.