Neuromuscular impairment: a major cause of non-syncopal falls in elderly Chinese

A survey was conducted on 138 residents in Old Age Hostels and 217 subjects living at home. Twenty-five percent of women and 12% of men reported one or more non-syncopal falls in the previous year. Neuromuscular impairment, which included knee pain, a positive Romberg sign, an abnormal gait and use of walking aids, was the main risk factor for falls in this population. Screening and preventive programmes may be based on these findings.