A Scoping Review of Interventions Aimed at Reducing Fear of Falling in Older Adults With Orthopedic Conditions

Background and Purpose: Fear of falling (FoF) is a persistent anxiety regarding the risk of falling, which can even impact individuals without a history of falls. Fear of falling has been associated with decreased physical functioning and increased risk of falls. Most interventions have focused on reducing FoF in healthy older adults. This study aimed to review the literature’s scope, nature, and content related to FoF interventions in older adults with orthopedic conditions. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted. The method steps included identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, selecting the studies, charting the data, and synthesizing, summarizing, and reporting the results. Cochrane Library, Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were searched. The search strategy used a set of key concepts, including “Fear of Falling,” “Orthopedic conditions,” “Interventions,” and “Older adults.” Results and Discussion: Out of the 33 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 21 were randomized control trials (RCTs), 5 were RCT protocols, 3 were quasi-experimental studies, 2 employed pre-post designs, 1 was a prospective cohort study, and 1 was an experimental study. The review revealed 7 distinct categories of interventions: exercise training, cognitive behavioral therapy, enhanced occupational or physical therapy (OT or PT), motivational interviews, interdisciplinary interventions, education, and mind-body intervention. The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) was the most frequently used outcome measure for assessing FoF. Other measures were the Fear of Falling Questionnaire (FoFQ), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Perceived Ability to Manage Fall (PAMF). The studies varied in their reasoning, content, and how they reported findings, posing challenges for healthcare professionals in choosing and applying FoF intervention programs specific to various orthopedic conditions. Conclusion: This review highlighted the need for adopting more comprehensive approaches for assessing and addressing FoF in older adults with orthopedic conditions.