Excercise and falls prevention in older people

Falls are not an inevitable result of ageing, but they are the most serious and frequent home accident among older people. Falls are a major reason for admission to hospital and residential care setting, even when no serious injury has occurred. Falls are therefore costly for society as well as causing considerable suffering, morbidity and mortality. Multidisciplinary multi-factorial intervention programmes that include risk factor assessment, screening and appropriate intervention have been shown to be effective in reducing falls whilst balance and strengthening exercise is effective both as a stand alone intervention and as part of a multidisciplinary intervention.