Background: Fear of falling is common among persons with Parkinson's disease and is negatively associated with quality of life. However a lack of in-depth understanding of fear of falling as a phenomenon persists. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of fear of falling in persons with Parkinson's disease.
Methods: Individual interviews were performed with twelve persons with Parkinson's disease (median age 70 years, median Parkinson duration 9 years, 50% women). The interviews were semi-structured and followed a study-specific interview guide. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Results: Fear of falling was experienced as a disturbing factor in everyday life. It generated a feeling of vulnerability and made daily activities and everyday environments seem potentially hazardous. Persons also missed performing previous activities. The fear of falling was a varying experience, fueled by an awareness of falls and near falls, Parkinson-related symptoms and disabilities, and by others in their environment. The persons adopted different strategies to handle their fear of falling. Activities were adapted, avoided, performed with help, or carried out despite their fear of falling.
Conclusions: The experiences of fear of falling were complex, multifaceted and varied over time and in relation to different activities and environments. This indicates that interventions targeting fear of falling need to be individually tailored for persons with Parkinson's disease and should focus on several aspects, such as Parkinson-related symptoms and disabilities, activities and environmental factors. This study provides new information that increases the understanding of fear of falling, which has implications for researchers as well as clinicians working with persons with Parkinson's disease and fear of falling.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5801775 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12877-018-0735-1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Falls and balance impairment; what and how has this been measured in adults with joint hypermobility? A scoping review.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord
January 2025
The Nick Davey Laboratory, Division of Surgery, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Sir Michael Uren Hub, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 86 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
Background: People with joint hypermobility have excessive joint flexibility, which is more common in young women. The people with symptomatic hypermobility report poor balance and even falls. This scoping review aims to identify and map the available evidence related to balance and falling in adults with joint hypermobility to support research planning and ideas for treatment direction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of a video-supported Cawthorne-Cooksey exercise program in older adults with balance deficits and dizziness: A preliminary randomised pilot study.
Australas J Ageing
March 2025
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University - Alexander Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of a video-supported Cawthorne-Cooksey exercise program (CCEP) in improving balance, dizziness and decreasing fear of falling in older adults with balance deficits and dizziness.
Methods: Thirty-two older adults were divided into two groups (intervention and control). The intervention group followed a video-supported CCEP group, while the control group received written instructions to maintain their usual activity and counselling on fall prevention.
The Effect of Frailty on Balance, Fear of Falling, and Dual-Task Performance in Individuals with Type 2 DM.
Life (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Institute of Graduate Studies, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Türkiye.
The aim of this study was to compare balance, fear of falling, and dual-task performance in frail, pre-frail, and non-frail individuals with type 2 DM. The study included 110 voluntary individuals diagnosed with type 2 DM. Individuals with type 2 DM were divided into three groups according to the FRAIL Scale: frail ( = 26), pre-frail ( = 52), and non-frail ( = 32).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Comparative Study of Risk Factors for Falls in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patients and Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Musculoskeletal Care
March 2025
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Objectives: Falls in older adults are a public health concern, yet little is known about falls in adults with hip or knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) who may be at a higher risk than the general population. The study objectives were to compare the number of fallers and fear of falling in TJA patients to age and sex matched community controls, and determine whether the type of risk factors for falls reported in TJA differed from the community group.
Methods: A cross sectional comparative study was conducted with patients waiting or recovering from TJA and age and sex matched comparison group of older adults residing in the community.
Is frailty associated with increased concerns about falling and activity restriction in community-dwelling older adults? A systematic review.
J Frailty Aging
February 2025
Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK. Electronic address:
Purpose: Concerns about falling (CaF) are common in older adults. They are associated with increased risk of falls, activity restriction, social isolation, and physical deconditioning. This systematic review assessed if frailty is a risk factor for CaF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!