PTJ Podcasts

PTJ Podcasts


Discussion Podcast: Are All Falls Equal? Screening, Costs, and Policy Making

November 30, 2015

In 2015, PTJ published 2 important articles on falls: "Management of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Clinical Guidance Statement From the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association," and "What Works to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults? Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials." In this discussion, authors Dr. Timothy Hanke and Dr. Brendon Stubbs join moderator Dr. Mangione to discuss the clinical impact and policy implications of their work. Notes Dr. Mangione, "Evidence shows that a multifactorial approach is needed among older community dwellers, but for me, the recent work in this area raises questions that the physical therapy profession haven't yet really addressed: Is the goal to prevent all falls or all injurious falls? Do we need to prevent frequent fallers from falling, or should we be focused on the skills needed to keep them moving after a fall? Do efforts for increasing 'safety' decrease physical activity?"