Overactive Bladder Linked to Falls in Seniors.

Scientists conducted an experiment in which older adults with an overactive bladder were asked to walk under normal conditions, while performing a distracting mental task, and while needing to urinate. The investigators observed that both the need to urinate and mental distraction resulted in similar changes in gait that can increase the risk for a fall. Lead author Dr. William Gibson writes, “This is pretty good evidence that people with incontinence are being distracted by their bladders, which means that they’re less able to concentrate on walking… If you’re a family physician looking after someone who is having problems with falls, one of the things that should be asked is, ‘Are you also having problems with your bladder?’ If so, then what can be done about that?” PLOS ONE, December 2021

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