@article{ref1,
title="Near-falls in people with Parkinson's disease: circumstances, contributing factors and association with falling",
journal="Clinical neurology and neurosurgery",
year="2017",
author="Gazibara, Tatjana and Kisic Tepavcevic, Darija and Svetel, Marina and Tomić, Aleksandra and Stankovic, Iva and Kostić, Vladimir S. and Pekmezović, Tatjana",
volume="161",
number="",
pages="51-55",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To describe circumstances of near-falls among persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), assess factors associated with near-falling and assess whether near-falls in the first 6 months are associated with falling in the latter 6 months over one year of follow-up. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period August 2011-December 2012, 120 consecutive persons with PD, who denied having fallen in the past 6 months, were recruited at Clinical center of Serbia in Belgrade. Occurrence of falling and near-falls was followed for one year. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 31 persons with PD (25.8%) experienced near-falls, but did not fall. Of 42 fallers, 32 (76.2%) experienced near-falls. Tripping was the most common cause of near-falls among fallers, whereas postural instability was the most common in non-fallers. Regardless of falling experience, the most common manner to avoid fall was holding onto furniture or wall. After adjustment for multiple motor and non-motor PD features, more severe freezing of gait was associated with occurrence of near-falls over one year of follow-up (odds ratio [OR]=1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.16; p=0.043). Adjusted regression analysis did not show associations between near-falling in the first 6 months and falling in the latter 6 months of follow-up. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Near-falls commonly occur in persons with PD. More severe freezing of gait appears to predispose near-falling. Fall prevention programs focusing on balance maintenance when experiencing freezing of gait could potentially be useful in reduction of near-falls.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0303-8467",
doi="10.1016/j.clineuro.2017.08.008",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2017.08.008"
}