A fisioterapia na prevenção de quedas em idosos: uma revisão integrativa sobre estratégias de intervenção

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Population aging represents one of the greatest contemporary challenges for healthcare systems due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, reduced functional capacity, and greater susceptibility to falls among older adults. Falls constitute a major public health concern because they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, hospitalizations, loss of functional independence, institutionalization, and reduced quality of life. In this context, physiotherapy plays a fundamental role in fall prevention through interventions focused on muscle strengthening, balance training, gait re-education, functional exercises, and evidence-based multicomponent programs. This study aimed to analyze the main scientific evidence regarding the role of physiotherapy in preventing falls among older adults. An integrative literature review with a qualitative approach was conducted using studies indexed in SciELO, PubMed, PEDro, Virtual Health Library (VHL), LILACS, and Google Scholar, including publications from 2016 to 2026. The findings demonstrated a consensus regarding the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic interventions in reducing fall risk and improving postural balance, muscle strength, functional mobility, gait performance, and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Individualized programs developed by multidisciplinary teams and combined with health education and home environment modifications were associated with better clinical outcomes. It is concluded that physiotherapy is an essential strategy for preventing falls among older adults, contributing significantly to the maintenance of functional capacity, autonomy, social participation, and quality of life. However, further Brazilian studies with robust methodological designs are needed to strengthen evidence-based clinical practice.