HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weiner, W. J. Articles by Glantz, R. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weiner, W. J. Articles by Glantz, R. H.

Elderly inpatients

Postural reflex impairment

From the Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine (Dr. Weiner), Miami, FL, and the Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush-Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center (Drs. Nora and Glantz), Chicago, IL.

We examined postural reflexes in 50 patients in a geriatric care facility. Patients aged 60 years and older who did not have orthostatic hypotension were subjected to a standing postural perturbation, and the degree of postural instability was recorded. Sixteen patients with leg amputations, recent stroke, and leg deformities were excluded. Of the remaining 34 patients, 44% had severe postural reflex impairment, and 24% had moderate impairment. Although the etiology for postural reflex impairment may be multivariant, the high percentage suggests that postural reflex dysfunction may be an important cause of unexplained falls in the elderly.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Weiner, Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136.

Supported in part by the National Parkinson Foundation.

Accepted for publication November 10, 1983.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. B. Hogan, F. A. MacDonald, J. Betts, S. Bricker, E. M. Ebly, B. Delarue, T. S. Fung, C. Harbidge, M. Hunter, C. J. Maxwell, et al. A randomized controlled trial of a community-based consultation service to prevent falls Can. Med. Assoc. J., September 1, 2001; 165(5): 537 - 543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Downton The clinical relevance of balance assessment in the elderly -- a personal review Clinical Rehabilitation, January 1, 1990; 4(4): 305 - 312. [PDF]