fall (redirected from taking the fall)

fall

[fawl]

a coming down freely, usually under the influence of gravity.

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fall

in dog conformation, hair that hangs over the face.

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fall

Public health A precipitous drop from a height, or from a higher position, which may be accompanied by injuries Epidemiology 30% of those > 65 yrs old fall/yr; 10-15% suffer injuries–eg, hip Fx–1% and other sites–5%, and soft tissue injuries–5%; it is the 6^th leading cause of death in the elderly Risk factors Postural hypotension, use of sedatives, use of 4+ prescription medicines, impaired arm or leg movement, strength, balance, or gait; fall survivors suffer from functional decline in ADL and a ↑ risk of institutionalization; fall risk in the elderly can be ↓ with exercise and endurance, flexibility, dynamic balance, and resistance training, behavior modification, adjustment of medications