Danger of falling with Parkinson’s Disease

A small stumble, a wrong step – that can have serious consequences. If you are falling, you often end up with more than just a bruise. One or more bone fractures may occur.

The risk of falling increases with age. Parkinson’s Disease further increases the risk. Estimates suggest that Parkinson’s sufferers are twice as likely to fall as their healthy counterparts.

A major cause of increased risk is limited mobility. No longer as mobile, which for most people means that they are no longer as active in everyday life. But this causes muscle strength to diminish.

Dizziness or balance problems, which can occur due to age or the use of medication, also increase the risk of a fall. Deterioration in vision is also a source of danger.

In people with Parkinson’s Disease, their motor skills and ability to react are often affected.

As this disease progresses, in many cases the ability to multitask also decreases. The brain can no longer process several things at the same time as well.

Having a conversation while climbing stairs – that can be difficult. The risk of stumbling increases.

The problem is that after a fall – it doesn’t have to have had any serious consequences – those affected are often left permanently unsettled. A vicious circle begins. For fear of falling again, those affected have less and less confidence in themselves. They limit their range of motion, go outside less, and do less with other people.

This causes the strength in the muscles to decrease even further. And this can also lead to loneliness.

After a fall, it would be ideal to think about what exactly caused it.

What happened shortly before the fall? Was I distracted, very tired, or dizzy? Did I feel weakened?

In this way you can often find out where the danger points are in everyday life.