[Accidental falls and fall-related injuries in the elderly. Diagnosis and intervention]

Falls in the elderly should be seen as treatable symptoms of impending or already present loss of mobility and therefore often loss of independence. The most important European and American epidemiological data are presented, and the diagnostic strategies and appropriate interventions discussed. The latter represent the most effective measures for minimizing functional impairment in the elderly that are currently available. The aim of the present paper is to demonstrate the feasibility of such measures and their value in the prevention of loss of mobility in the elderly.