Cognitive Behavioural Interventions for Addressing Fear of Falling and Fall Risk: from Part II - Strategies for Prevention

Fear of falling refers to ongoing concerns about falls which can compromise an individual’s quality of life. ‘Fear of falling’ is often used as an umbrella term to include both cognitive constructs, like balance confidence and fall-related self-efficacy, and affect-based constructs, like concern or worry about falling [1]. Fear of falling can be an adaptive and justified response for people who are frail, preventing them from taking part in risky activities [2]. However, approximately one-third of community-dwelling older people experience high levels of fear of falling, which has been associated with restriction in physical and social activities with consequent negative impacts on quality of life [3]. Fear of falling is multi-dimensional in nature. Physical (poor balance and muscle weakness), psychological (unrealistic appraisals of one’s ability to avoid falls) and behavioural factors (reduced outdoor and social activities) can interact and contribute to a vicious cycle of fear of falling and activity avoidance [2].