Fall Risk Factors
Factors that may put a person at risk for falling include reduced vestibular and balance function. A patient’s age is the most telling sign of fall risk. Reflexes become slower as one ages along with a decrease in muscle and bone strength. Other risk factors include a history of falls, cognitive impairment, depression, arthritis, and even hearing loss.
Approximately 30% of people who fall report hearing difficulties. The correlation between falls and hearing loss does seem plausible, given that hearing loss often leads to social isolation. Living a sedentary lifestyle often results in decreased muscle tone, strength and overall endurance – which further increases the risk for falls.
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