Journal
JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Volume 50, Issue 9, Pages 1277-1285Publisher
JOURNAL REHAB RES & DEV
DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2012.11.0215
Keywords
activities of daily living; circumstances; consequences; disability; emergency; falls; injury; mobility; rehabilitation; stroke
Categories
Funding
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development Service [06-233-2]
- Career Development Award from the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service [CDA D6174W]
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Falls are common after stroke; however, circumstances and consequences are relatively unknown. Our objectives were to identify the differences between fallers and non-fallers among people with chronic stroke, identify the circumstances of fall events, and examine the consequences of the falls This is a secondary data analysis; all participants included sustained a stroke. Variables included demographics, stroke characteristics, and comorbidities. Falls were collected via self-report, and circumstances and consequences were derived from participant description of the event and categorized as appropriate. Among 160 participants, 53 (33%) reported a fall during the 1 yr period. Circumstances of falls were categorized as intrinsic or extrinsic. Location and circumstance of the fall were included: 70% occurred at home and 40% were associated with impaired physical or mental state (e.g., inattention to tying shoes). Additionally, 21% of falls were associated with activities of daily living and mobility and 34% with slips or trips. The majority who fell sustained an injury (72%). Injuries ranged from bruising to fractures, and 55% of those with an injury sought medical care (32% to emergency department). Poststroke falls are associated with an alarming rate of injury and healthcare utilization. Targeting mental and physical states may be key to fall prevention.
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