ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author looks at some of the evidence surrounding the falls and immobility frailty syndromes. He argues that a more 'holistic' view of intervention is perhaps required, rather than a strictly medical one, including addressing the factors that surround impairments and disability–such as fear of falling or activity avoidance. Frailty might reflect a loss of functional homeostasis, which results in a reduced ability to withstand or compensate for illness without loss of function. Osteoporosis and frailty can co-occur leading to increased risk of fracture in the ageing population and there can be interplay of contributing factors such as reduced mobility due to osteoarthritis, obesity and/or poor nutrition. Falls and frailty share many significant characteristics. Main features of frailty include weakness, as well as balance and gait problems, all of which predispose older people to falling. Activity restriction is a predictor of falls, possibly because of the decline of muscle function, physical ‘deconditioning’, balances and gait disorders.
