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[Are old patients able to get up from the floor?]
G Asbjørnsen1, L Braathen, H Mellemstuen
1Geriatrisk avdeling, Ullevål sykehus, Oslo. gunnar.asbjoernsen@ulleval.oslo.kommune.no
Summary
Teaching elderly individuals living alone how to rise from the floor after a fall is effective. This intervention can reduce the risk of prolonged inability to get up, enhancing safety and independence.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Fall Prevention
- Physical Therapy
Context:
- Accidental falls pose significant risks for elderly individuals living alone.
- Inability to rise from the floor after a fall can lead to prolonged immobility and distress.
- This study addresses a critical safety concern in geriatric care.
Purpose:
- To assess the effectiveness of a training program designed to teach elderly individuals how to rise from the floor.
- To determine the success rate of independent rising after instruction and physiotherapy.
- To evaluate the potential of such training in mitigating fall-related risks.
Summary:
- A study involving 206 elderly patients living alone tested their ability to rise from the floor.
- 154 patients (75%) could rise independently; of the 52 who failed, 39 received training, and 22 subsequently managed to rise independently.
- The training program involved up to five physiotherapy sessions.
Impact:
- Physiotherapy-guided training can successfully teach elderly individuals to rise from the floor.
- This intervention is likely to reduce the incidence of prolonged inability to get up after a fall.
- Enhancing the ability to rise independently improves safety and reduces fear among vulnerable elderly populations.