Falls in people with mobility limitations: a cross-sectional analysis of a US registry of assistive device users.
Corey Morrow, Richard Schein, Gede Pramana and 2 others
PMID 38958175WHAT IT FOUND
Half of adults seeking mobility devices reported a fall in the past three months.
Those with progressive conditions like Parkinson's or osteoarthritis fell most often, while many still used only canes or no device.
Key findings
0152.2% of participants reported at least one fall in the three months before their evaluation.
02Participants with progressive disabilities such as Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis had the highest percentages of reported falls.
0346.6% of those who reported a fall were using a walking aid or no device at all before the evaluation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
This is a descriptive study, not an experiment. It cannot prove that one type of device prevents falls better than another. Fall data is self-reported and recalled over three months, which may be inaccurate. The study excludes people under 18. There is significant missing data for some variables, including falls. The cohort represents people already seeking a new device evaluation, so results may not apply to those who have not yet sought help.
Declared interests
One author reports grants from Van G. Miller Group/U.S. Rehab during the study and personal fees from Functional Mobility Assessment Royalties outside the study. The registry was created by the University of Pittsburgh and commercial partners.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that wheelchairs prevent falls better than walkers. This study only describes who fell and what they were using; it does not test whether changing the device would have prevented the fall.