Samenvatting

Falls are common after stroke. This article presents a literature review of the incidence and risk factors of
falls and the consequences for professionals working with stroke patients. It is important to consider the
specific problems after stroke. Depression and cognitive impairments were found to be risk factors for fall
incidents after stroke. In the relevant literature many different risk factors and circumstances are
described. When patients move from bed to chair, walk to the bathroom and the first few days after the
patient is discharged to another setting, - all these circumstances showed high percentages of falling. A
fall during hospital stay is a significant risk factor for future fall incidents. A reliable index to measure the
fall risk is not (yet) available. But scores on the Barthel Index and the Timed-Up-and-Go test can be used
as fall risk indicators. Fear of falling is an important complication after a fall and therefore it is
recommended prior to discharge to inquire about the patient’s self efficacy in maintaining balance. Few
intervention studies use the number of falls as an outcome measure. Exercising balance following a mass
training protocol seems to diminish the risk of falling.