Article

PURPOSE: To systematically review and synthesise the research evidence linking
pain to psychological concerns about falling in community dwelling older adults.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the preferred
reporting items of systematic reviews and meta-analysis statement (PRISMA). Major
electronic databases were searched from inception until June 2013. Two authors
independently conducted the searches, extracted data and completed methodological
quality assessments. Articles were included if they measured one of the
psychological concerns related to falling in a sample of community dwelling older
adults with pain, or explored the association between the two. RESULTS: Of a
potential 892 articles, 12 met the eligibility criteria (n=3398). The
methodological quality of the included studies was variable and none of the
included studies primary aim was to investigate the relationship between pain and
psychological concerns related to falls. Two studies found significant
differences in psychological concerns related to falls in older adults with pain
and a control group. Nine out of 10 studies reported a significant correlation
between pain and psychological concerns related to falls in their sample.
CONCLUSION: This review provides provisional evidence that pain is associated
with fear of falling (FOF), avoidance of activities due to FOF and falls efficacy
in community dwelling older adults. Implications for Rehabilitation Pain is a
common and pervasive problem in community dwelling older adults and can affect an
individual's mobility, levels of physical activity and increase their falls risk.
Psychological concerns related to falls, such as fear of falling (FOF), falls
efficacy and balance confidence are also common and troublesome issues in older
adults, yet the association with pain has not been investigated with a systematic
review. This review provides provisional evidence that pain may increase older
adult's risk of developing FOF, avoiding activities due to a FOF and impact their
falls efficacy. In recognition of the findings of this review, clinicians working
with older adults with pain should consider assessing psychological concerns
related to falls and if necessary intervene if they identify an individual at risk.

Langue : ANGLAIS