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In the companion paper, we have outlined how relevant risk factors for falls can be identified using a systematic approach. Once identified, the underlying diseases and pattern of (usually multiple) risk factors guides the design of an individually tailored intervention program. Such intervention programs follow one or more of the following goals: (a) to treat the underlying disease; (b) to reduce or even eliminate the number of falls; (c) to prevent or minimise the associated injuries; and (d) tertiary prevention of fall-related disability, including immobilisation, muscle weakness, reduced fitness, osteoporosis, fear of falling and mortality. The successful results of various intervention studies underscores that falls should be regarded as a potentially treatable disorder in elderly persons. Such knowledge is important for clinicians, which could apply prevention strategies to individual patients with risk factors that are strongly associated with falls. In addition, prevention is important for health policy makers who aim to reduce falls in the general population by reducing or eliminating commonly present risk factors (even if they are only weakly associated with falls).

Falls severely threaten the health of elderly persons and pose high costs to the public health service. Unfortunately, falls are often regarded as unavoidable and untreatable features of aging. Therefore, many clinicians merely treat the physical injuries of a fall. However, falls and gait limitations are markers of underlying (sometimes otherwise subclinical) diseases that can be amenable to treatment. Moreover, falls and gait limitations herald the onset of repeated falls, physical decline, serious psychosocial consequences and a reduced survival. We review how clinically relevant risk factors can be traced by reviewing the medical notes, by careful history taking and by physical examination. The identified risk factors can serve as a template for the design of prevention strategies, which are discussed in the companion article.