THE ROLE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN THE PREVENTION OF FALLS IN THE ELDERLY

Abstract

The increase in the life statistics of the elderly population in Brazil has grown significantly, the increase in this proportion is a global phenomenon, the whole world is at some stage of this process and this is due to the improvement in quality of life. This is a Bibliographic Review research of a qualitative, explanatory and descriptive nature during the 2021 academic year for the purpose of completing the Physiotherapy undergraduate course. For this, a bibliographic survey was used in the databases of SCIELO, Google Scholar, books, articles and magazines, with publication period from 2017 to 2021. The fall in the elderly is rarely related to a single cause, and may have factors extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors, where it can bring about several damages in the quality of life of this person, and can even generate a feeling of incapacity and leading to a more serious case such as depression. Physiotherapy in the prevention of falls in the elderly performs exercises to improve gait, balance, proprioception and even to gain strength in the lower limbs, evaluates the daily living environment and checks the risks, whether domestic or not, providing guidance and possibility of home adaptations. It was possible to conclude that Physiotherapy acts directly in the prevention of falls, guiding society, family members and the elderly, providing an improvement in the quality of life, whether in the prevention or rehabilitation of falls, always focusing on health prevention and a safe environment. to the elderly.