PEOPLE'S concerns about falling may predict them actually taking a fall in the future, according to a new international study led by Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisations, responsible for 400 every day.
A review of 53 studies involving 75,000 participants confirmed that concern about falling independently predicts future falls.
"Many older Australians develop concerns about falling, and this concern itself increases their risk of future falls," said study lead Prof Kim Delbaere from NeuRA.
"While we already knew having had prior falls was a risk factor for developing concerns about falling, this research found falling can be both a cause and consequence of falls."
"These findings fill a critical evidence gap and further support the inclusion of concerns about falling in risk assessments in national and international guidelines," Prof Delbaere said.
She noted that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing, with evidence showing that 30% of falls are preventable.
The first step, she said, is to have a conversation with older adults about their concerns.
"After identifying concerns about falling, it is important to support people with targeted, multidisciplinary interventions such as exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy and occupational therapy, to help reduce the risk of falls," she said.
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