[Rehabilitation following falls of undetermined etiology: results of an intervention study].

In a population of 355 nursing-home patients 35 could be identified with "idiopathic senile gait disturbance" or falls. Out of these, twelve patients were motivated to participate in a trial to improve the gait. Six patients participated in an intensive daily physiotherapy-program for five weeks, six patients served as a control group. Five of the six patients in the intervention group improved the gait to a high degree. The gait analysis documented an abnormal posture due to a long use of walking aids, which was not influenced by the training. The study documents that very old nursing home patients can improve the mobility by intensive gait training if they can be motivated for such therapy.