Postural strategies and falls in elderly and in parkinsonism]

OBJECTIVE: To use a posture analysis to show the evolution of postural pattern connected with falls.MATERIAL AND METHOD: It is a prospective study on two groups of 16 persons of more than 60 years. A group concerns 16 small disability off drug parkinsonian patients, a group concerns 16 healthy witnesses. All the persons benefited from a posture recording by means of a force platform and were followed during 1 year. RESULTS: Data analysis underlines three groups of persons corresponding to three postural patterns, independently of the presence of Parkinson disease. A group (n = 18) did not contain fallers, the second (n = 10 ) contained 20% of fallers, the third (n = 4) contained 100% of fallers. Differences between the groups were identified on 16 posturographic parameters. DISCUSSION: A group has a good functional value and one does not record any fall. Its characteristics, which correspond to a category of persons who compensate well for the phenomena of ageing, are found in the literature. A group has an intermediate functional value and regrets 20% of fallers. Kinetic profile reveals a tendency to the stiffness of the posture. This group is going to operate rather ankle strategies. A group has an inferior functional value and regrets 100% of fallers. Kinetic profile seems disrupted and not to be able to adapt itself in a satisfactory way to the situation otherwise than by stereotypical reactions. This group is going to operate systematically much less stabilizing hip strategies. CONCLUSION: A close determinism between physiological neuromotor ageing and Parkinson disease does exist. We showed with a prospective follow-up, the arisen of fall and showed the evolution of postural patterns related to fall. It appears as well that evolution mainly follows three stages leading from a small risk of fall gait pattern to a major risk of fall gait pattern.     

Dementia and dysphagia

In 2004, more than 12% of the population in the United States was aged 65 years or older. This percentage is expected to increase to 20% of the population by 2030. The prevalence of swallowing disorders, or dysphagia, in older individuals ranges from 7% to 22% and dramatically increases to 40% to 50% in older individuals who reside in long-term care facilities. For older individuals, those with neurologic disease, or those with dementia, the consequence of dysphagia may be dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, and aspiration pneumonia. Dysphagia can be a result of behavioral, sensory, or motor problems (or a combination of these) and is common in individuals with neurologic disease and dementia. Although there are few studies of the incidence and prevalence of dysphagia in individuals with dementia, it is estimated that 45% of institutionalized dementia patients have dysphagia. The high prevalence of dysphagia in individuals with dementia likely is the result of age-related changes in sensory and motor function in addition to those produced by neuropathology. The following article describes evidence based practices in caring for those individuals with dementia and dysphagia with guidelines for evaluation and management.     

Dementia and depression

It is not always a simple task to differentiate between pseudo-dementia as a manifestation of depression, a dementia in an early stage of its development, or a 'hybrid' of both forms in the (very)aged. Treatment with anti-depressant agents in sufficient dosage and individually adjusted care can often yield astonishing results. Examples are provided.     

Incidence, circumstances and consequences of falls in patients undergoing rehabilitation after a first stroke]

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence, circumstances, and consequences of falls in patients admitted in a rehabilitation ward after a stroke. METHODS: Prospective monitoring of falls over four years in a neurological rehabilitation unit. Use of fall registry. Inclusion criteria: age < 75 years, admission < 45 days after stroke onset, single stroke of 1 cerebral hemisphere (nonlacunar) or of the brain stem. Only falls due to loss of balance were considered; falls caused by a seizure or syncope were not considered. RESULTS: Of 217 consecutive patients with the inclusion criteria, 34 had fallen at least once (15.7%) and 10 twice (4.1%). Fall incidence, defined as the number of falls per patient per day was 2.2 per thousand. Half of the patients fell the first three weeks after admission. Most falls involved getting to or from the wheelchair or the bed; 1 patient had recovered minimal postural abilities at the gym but was not independent. Traumatic lesions were noted in 13 patients: they were minor in nine and severe in four, including three fractures. CONCLUSION: Falls due to loss of balance are a major problem in patients undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke. Getting to and from wheelchairs in the bedroom and bathroom by patients who are not allowed to do so play a key role in many falls. Prevention programs should consider this information.