Near-Falls in Elderly Community-Dwelling Blacks From Two Out-Patient Clinics in Harlem.

Background: Near-falls are a frequent, but not commonly studied, occurrence in the elderly Black population and may be related to prospective falls.

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of near-falls to demographic characteristics, use of assistive devices, gait, and physical activity levels in elderly Blacks.

Methods: Community-dwelling, elderly Black patients aging 65 and older and attending two clinics of the Mount Sinai Hospital in Harlem in New York City were recruited.