Implications for practice and research Fear of falling (FOF) is common, even in the absence of recent falls. Health professionals should assess older people who present with falls, near falls or unsteady gait for the presence of FOF, and if identified, exercise or cognitive–behavioural intervention should be considered.

Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to address FOF on preventing or minimising development of incident disability. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details