Chronic pain a risk factor for falls

25 Nov 2009 - Posted by the Editorial Team

Individuals experiencing chronic pain may be more likely to experience a fall if they are over the age of 70.

This is according to findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which suggests that pain may be associated with more dangers than previously thought.

Lead researcher Dr Suzanne Leveille, of the University of Massachusetts, US, said that pain is not a normal part of ageing and that it often goes untreated in older adults.

"Our findings showed that older adults who reported chronic musculoskeletal pain in two or more locations - mainly in the joints of the arms and legs - as well as individuals who reported more severe pain or pain that interfered with daily activities were more likely to experience a fall than other individuals," she commented.

Dr Leveille went on to say that pain needs to be considered as a risk factor for falls, particularly those with chronic pain in two or more joints.

It is believed that chronic pain affects as many as two in three older people. It is usually defined as pain that lasts for six months or longer.

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