It is recommended that a formal assessment is required so that individualised fall prevention measures could be implemented effectively.
Neurological conditions have been recognised as a risk factor for falls. Common conditions seen to increase the risk of a fall include:
- Migraine,
- Vertico,
- Stroke and
- Parkinson’s disease.
There are many ways in which physiological factors accompanying these conditions can increase the risk of falls.
What is a Falls Assessment?
A Fall Risk Assessment is used to determine a score that represents someone’s risk of falling. This is particularly relevant in cases where someone has not yet had a fall. They can still be identified ‒ through balance or fall-specific outcome measures.
To identify fall risk, both neurological and non-neurological risk factors, a Falls Assessment can include:
- Elderly Falls Screening Test (EFST),
- Timed Up and Go (TUG), and
- Tinetti Scale,
Some topics covered by a Falls Risk Assessment:
- Recent Fall History
- Medications
- Psychological
- Cognitive Status
- Vision
- Mobility
- Over-Reaches
- Impulsive Behaviours
- Activities Of Daily Living
- Environment
- Nutrition
- Continence
Who Benefits from Attending a Falls Clinic?
A Falls Assessment can provide the specific information required to develop a treatment pathway to improve the risks associated with falls.
Due to the negative impact associated with falling,
- Understand common neurological conditions and their impact on fall risk.
- Increase knowledge of strategies for preventing falls in people with neurological conditions.
Can a Neurologist Help With Balance
Where patients struggling with balance, or suffering for recurrent migraines or even minor work-related injuries, understand the health drivers behind these is important.
There are numerous health benefits of seeing a neurologist, including:
- Disease management
- Pain relief
- Illness prevention
- the Second opinion
When it comes to disease management, neurologists are highly trained doctors in autoimmune and chronic conditions such as sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis, and dementia.
A neurologist can help work-related injury management and your overall “quality of life.”
A neurologist can assist with balance issues associated with peripheral nerve disease and other neurological conditoons and relieve pain for patients with body soreness, lower back pain, neck pain, or severe headaches.
For work-related injury or frequent or severe migraines that prevent you from attending work, a neurologist can assess these symptoms and help manage the causes and avoid further falling or balance problems.
For unresolved or undiagnosed memory loss or falling issues, a second opinion can be a good idea.
