united risk factor for falls in the...

united risk factor for falls in the somewhat old is muscle weakness; muscle power is important in maintaining balance. most numerous systematic reviews that measure the magnitude of individual risk factors for falls have focused forward drugs. In this systematic review, Moreland and colleagues investigated the quantitative contribution of muscle weakness to fall risk in somewhat old adults.

Criteria for thought selection included age of the research sample, with at least united half of participants 65 years and older; muscle solidity considered as an individual risk factor; and falling as a studied result Prospective study design also was a requirement.

Of 30 reports that met the inclusion criteria, 13 contained data that could be extracted for analysis. The mostly common measures used to assess lower-extremity puissance were knee extensions, ankle dorsiflexion, and chair stands. The combined singles ratio (OR) for these measures as a risk for falling was statistically significant at 176 For returning falls, the OR was 306

In the case of upper-extremity might testing, grip strength was the most numerous common measure used for assessment. Here, the ORs were statistically significant, if it be not that of a lower magnitude than those for lower-extremity weakness. Another way of adjusted analysis, rate ratio, was used by the agency of one study. This showed a small force size that was not statistically significant. A sensitivity analysis showed that institutionalized somewhat old patients were consistently at higher risk for falls than their community-dwelling counterparts when muscle weakness was present

The authors judge that lower-extremity weakness is a statistically significant risk factor for falls. Because adjusted analysis was provided in solitary one upper-extremity study, the association between upper-extremity weakness and falls may indicate simply that upper-extremity weakness is a marker for lower-extremity weakness. Other meta-analyses have set that pharmacologic agents, specifically psychotropic medications, are independent risk factors for falls. Although this inquiry has identified muscle weakness as another independent risk factor, an important limitation is the fact that many of the studies reviewed did not report multivariate analyses. More important clinically, the literature does not provide hardy evidence that muscle strengthening by the and of various exercise regimens prevents falls. Thus, more work must be done to determine what aspect of muscle vigor is protective.

Moreland JD et al. Muscle weakness and falls in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Geriatr Soc July 2004;52:1121-9

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