What are physical therapists doing to prevent falls in older adults in Brazil? - Findings from a nationwide survey.
Renato Barbosa Dos Santos, Marcos Paulo Miranda de Aquino, Tatiane da Silva and 5 others
PMID 40848417WHAT IT FOUND
Most Brazilian physical therapists ask about falls and prescribe balance exercises, but referrals are rare.
Therapists outside geriatrics or who feel outdated are much less likely to consistently screen and document risk factors. Patient reluctance, not time or equipment, was the main reported barrier.
Key findings
01PTs outside geriatrics or who do not feel up to date with evidence are significantly less likely to consistently ask about falls, identify risk factors, or provide interventions compared to those in geriatrics or who feel current.
02While most PTs assess balance and gait, referrals to other professionals are the least performed strategy, with 57% reporting they never, rarely, or sometimes make them.
03The primary barriers reported were patient-related factors such as low adherence and denial of fall risk, rather than therapist constraints like time or lack of equipment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used convenience and snowball sampling, which may overrepresent PTs who are already engaged in or interested in fall prevention. The sample was heavily skewed toward PTs working in geriatrics and home care, so findings may not generalize to those in other settings like acute care or pediatrics. Self-reported behaviors may differ from actual clinical practice due to social desirability bias. The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot establish causality between professional characteristics and practice patterns.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high rates of asking about falls and prescribing balance exercises as evidence that fall risk is being comprehensively managed. The data show significant gaps in documentation, standardized testing, and referrals, particularly among PTs outside geriatrics or those who feel less current with evidence.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →