Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Falls and lying helpless in the elderly.

O P Ryynänen1, S L Kivelä, R Honkanen

  • 1Department of Community Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, Finland.

Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie
|July 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Falls in older adults seeking medical care are concerning. A prolonged period lying down after a fall correlates with high body temperature, low potassium, and severe injury, especially in women.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Physical and mental health predicts better adherence to exercise intervention in older women: A post-hoc analysis.

Heliyon·2024
Same author

Obesity is associated with early hip fracture risk in postmenopausal women: a 25-year follow-up.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2020
Same author

Depression, falls, and fractures.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2020
Same author

A fall in the previous 12 months predicts fracture in the subsequent 5 years in postmenopausal women.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2019
Same author

Role of musculoskeletal disorders in falls of postmenopausal women.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2018
Same author

Long-term effects of functional impairment on fracture risk and mortality in postmenopausal women.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2018

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Public Health
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Falls are a significant health concern for older adults (65+).
  • A substantial percentage of older adults seeking medical attention after a fall experience prolonged immobility.
  • Understanding factors associated with prolonged lying time after falls is crucial for injury prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with falls in older adults that result in a prolonged period of lying helpless.
  • To investigate the independent predictors of prolonged immobility following a fall in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Bivariate analyses were conducted to explore associations between prolonged lying time and various factors.
  • A log-linear model was employed to determine independent predictors of falls with extended lying duration.
  • The study analyzed data from older adults (65+) who sought medical attention after a fall.

Main Results:

  • Twelve percent of men and 19% of women aged 65+ who sought medical attention after a fall lay immobile for ≥15 minutes.
  • Prolonged lying time was associated with severe injury, intrinsic/unknown fall mechanisms, indoor falls, poor functional capacity, walking aid use, elevated body temperature (≥37.5°C), and low serum potassium (<3.5 mmol/l).
  • Independent predictors for prolonged lying after a fall included high body temperature, low serum potassium, and severe injury. Extrinsic fall mechanisms were linked to poor functional capacity, unlike intrinsic/unknown mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • High body temperature, low serum potassium, and severe injury are independent risk factors for prolonged immobility after a fall in older adults.
  • Functional capacity is associated with falls due to extrinsic mechanisms, highlighting the importance of fall prevention strategies.
  • These findings underscore the need for prompt medical evaluation and targeted interventions for older adults experiencing falls, particularly those with identified risk factors.

Related Experiment Videos