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Examining Critical Falls Among People with MS

Int J MS Care; ePub 2016 Jun 13; Bisson, et al

Publish date:: July 19, 2016

Receiving help after a fall is common among people aging with multiple sclerosis (MS), and recent findings support the need for fall management education that includes planning for proper assistance and balance and strength training to increase the ability to get up safely after a fall. Of the 354 adults with MS (aged ≥55 years) interviewed, 327 reported a story about their most recent fall. Researchers found:

• 177 (54.1%) individuals received help to get up after their most recent fall.

• Logistic regression analysis revealed 6 factors associated with this proxy for critical falls:

1. Being female

2. Longer disease duration

3. Living with others

4. Fall led to fracture

5. Balance or mobility problems

6. Leg weakness

Citation: Bisson EJ, Peterson EW, Finlayson M. Frequency and factors associated with a proxy for critical falls among people aging with multiple sclerosis: An exploratory study. [Published online ahead of print June 13, 2016]. Int J MS Care. doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2015-053.

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