Editor: a great emphasis has been paid on measurement and improvement of balance in the elderly in gerontology and neuromuscular rehabilitation, and both fall risk and balance deterioration are found to be significantly correlated with advancing age in the elderly, and for a long time, balance has been thought of being a major predictor of falls.1,2 Contrary to the popular belief, falls are not uncommon in healthy young individuals either, with an incidence of 18%, as compared to 21% and 35% for the middle aged and older adults respectively.2 This finding is also reinforced by the data of 80 million reported falls in community dwelling U.S adults, out of which 32.3% were reported to be young adults, 35.3% middle aged and 32.3% were older adults.3 Even though it is perceived that sports and recreational activities would be the most common activity resulting in falls in healthy young adults, but according to literature it is ambulation in 31.5% of cases.2 Similarly, the most common perceived cause of fall is found to be balance and gait impairment (38.9%) and the most common environmental factor resulting in fall is found to be uneven surfaces and steps (20.9%).2 It is reported that it was more common for healthy young adults as compared to middle aged and older adults, to experience an injury resulting from fall with an incidence ...
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0030-9982 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/JPMA.38023 ID - ref1 ER -