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Affiliation
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Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate fall frequency during the last year, circumstances around falls, fear of falling, self-reported impairments and walking limitations in persons with mild to moderate late effects of polio.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional postal-survey. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 325 persons with clinically and electrophysiologically verified late effects of polio (175 women and 150 men; mean age 70 years).
METHOD: Demographics, fall frequency during the last year and circumstances around falls were obtained through a questionnaire. Fear of falling when performing daily activities was assessed with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), impairments with the Self-reported Impairments in Persons with Late Effects of Polio (SIPP) and walking limitations with the Walking Impact Scale (Walk-12).
RESULTS: Of the 325 respondents, 62% reported at least one fall during the last year. Most of the falls were reported in the afternoon (68%) and when walking outdoors (53%). Fallers reported significantly higher (P<.001) mean scores than the non-fallers in FES-I (35.8 points vs 29.2 points), in SIPP (28.2 points vs 25.0 points) and in Walk-12 (63% vs 43%).
CONCLUSIONS: Falls are common in people with mild to moderate late effects of polio, especially later in the day and during outdoor walking. Fear of falling, self-reported impairments and walking limitations are greater among the fallers than the non-fallers. To reduce falls and fear of falling in persons with late effects of polio and to increase their activity level and participation in various life situations, evidence-based interdisciplinary falls management programs are needed.
Language: en |