[Muscular retraction in the elderly. Effect on posture maintenance and mobility. Proposed global physiotherapeutic...

Muscle retraction at the level of the trunk and the lower limbs represents a curable cause of balance and walking disorders, as well as falls, in the older person; therefore it deserves to be recognised, assessed and treated so that elderly patients' independence can be preserved. After making the diagnosis of muscle retraction it is possible to implement a treatment regime which we have evaluated using two indicators which clearly show a functional improvement in walking and risk of falling.