Preventing Falls: A Defensive Approach Book

	Foreword	11
	Introduction	13
	Falling Is a Major Health Risk for the Elderly	15
	Falls and Parkinson's Disease	17
	The Defensive Falls School	21
	Fine Motor Coordination	25
	Vision and Falls in the Elderly and in Parkinson's Disease	27
	Age-Related Changes in the Lens of the Eye	27
	Central Nervous System Changes and Vision	28
	Gaze	29
	Parkinson's Disease and Vision	29
	Visual Contrast Sensitivity and Parkinson's Disease	31
	The Built Environment and Vision	35
	Balance and Center of Gravity	37
	Sensory Organization and Balance: Proprioception	38
	Sensory Organization and Balance: Vision	40
	Pronation/Supination	41
	Gait, Posture, and Risk of Falls in Parkinson's Disease	43
	Control of Gait	43
	Age-Related Changes in Gait	44
	Gait and Parkinson's Disease	44
	Assessing Gait	45
	Coping with Freezing	47
	High-Risk Conditions and Built Environment Interventions	51
	Surface Transition Areas	52
	Stepbacks, Turn Areas, Acceleration Zones, and Elevation Changes	53
	Slips, Slides, and Slumps	54
	Executive Function and Falls in Parkinson's Disease	57
	Behavior and Executive Function	57
	Attention and Executive Function	58
	Progression of Executive Function Decline	58
	Executive Function and Falls	59
	Anticipating Falls and Reducing Distractions	61
	Physical Evaluation	63
	Home Safety Assessments	65
	Illustrations of Hazardous Situations and Solutions	66
	Transfer Techniques	79
	Dizziness and Orthostatic Hypotension	83
	Walking Aids and Assistive Devices	85
	Recovery from a Fall	87
	Conclusion	89
	Appendices
A.	Defensive Falls School Curriculum	91
B.	Defensive Falls School Assessments	93
C.	Parkinson's Disease Fall Profile	103
D.	Suggested Readings and References	109
E.	Contributors	113