Treatment of Falls in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Falls are common in Parkinson’s disease and have a disabling impact on the quality of life of affected individuals, as they often result in fall-related injuries, fear of falling, and a reduced mobility. The underlying mechanism of falls in Parkinson’s disease is often related to multiple co-existing risk factors. Falls prevention is difficult, but not impossible. It starts with identifying which risk factors contribute to the falls in each patient. Identification of all potentially contributing risk factors for falls then serves as a basis for subsequent interventions, typically using a multidisciplinary approach.