Introduction. In some older adults, a fall is followed by persistent motor, emotional and functional limitations that cannot be explained by injury alone. International literature uses the terms post-fall syndrome, fear of falling, concerns about falling and psychomotor disadaptation syndrome. Russian publications focus mainly on falls syndrome and prevention of recurrent falls, while post-fall syndrome has rarely been considered as a separate target of medical rehabilitation. Objective. To summarize current evidence on post-fall syndrome and, through an analytical synthesis of the literature, substantiate an author-developed set of working clinical criteria and a stage-based model, and to describe rehabilitation tactics and patient routing. Materials and methods. An analytical narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Russian peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines and regulatory documents was performed. The main search period was 2015–2026; earlier publications were included for original definitions and validated assessment tools. The thematic synthesis covered the clinical phenotype of post-fall psychomotor disadaptation, fear and activity avoidance, functional consequences of falls, and rehabilitation approaches; these domains formed the basis of the author-developed working model. Results. Post-fall syndrome is proposed as a multidomain condition developing or worsening after an index fall, in which motor-postural impairment and/or reduced physical confidence are accompanied by emotional-cognitive, functional or social restrictions. The thematic synthesis yielded four domains, author-developed working diagnostic criteria and a stage-based model from pre-fall vulnerability to chronic fixation of limitations. Rehabilitation potential, prognosis, limiting factors and a practical clinical routing algorithm are presented. Conclusion. Post-fall syndrome can be considered a specific target of medical rehabilitation after acute causes of deterioration have been excluded. The proposed criteria and stage boundaries are a working model that requires prospective clinical validation.
Keywords post-fall syndrome, falls, older adults, fear of falling, medical rehabilitation, rehabilitation potential, rehabilitation routing scale
Bibliographic reference:
Nikanorov V.N., Ilnitskiy A.N., Tatarinova O.V., POST-FALL SYNDROME IN OLDER ADULTS: WORKING CRITERIA, A STAGE-BASED MODEL AND A MEDICAL REHABILITATION ALGORITHM. A LITERATURE REVIEW // «GERONTOLOGY» Scientific Journal. - 2026. - №4; URL: http://gerontology.su/magazines?textEn=568 (date of access: 23.10.2026).