Fits, Faints and Falls in Old Age

Events in anyone day of the aged consist of the functions of daily living modified or enhanced for each individual according to his or her capability. It is the constant aim of the medical professions to enhance the individual's quality of life and to try to avoid what is preventable. Among some of the hazards of the geriatric day are fits, faints and falls. It is the fall which often highlights the first two and the consequences may be serious for an old person. Perhaps one day an easy way to circumvent the 'forces of gravity' or drugs to counteract impaired sensory input will be found. The importance of the study of gait has been increasingly recognized by physicians working in this field of medicine for the elderly; writings by geriatricians on the subject are numerous. Bernard Isaacs in his gait research laboratory in Birmingham is studying the subject. In this book the experience of the contributors is brought together, inevitably with some overlap, which has in the main been avoided by restructuring, modification and crosschecking of articles.