Student Learning Companion – Beyond the Fall When clinicians think about footwear, the discussion often centres on slips, trips and falls. Shoes with adequate grip, appropriate heel support and secure fastening undoubtedly reduce environmental risk and remain an important component of falls prevention. However, the influence of footwear extends far beyond the feet. Every step represents a coordinated interaction between the feet, ankles, knees, hips, pelvis and spine. Alterin

An Evidence-Based Analysis of Non-Musculoskeletal Fall Drivers Falls in older adults and clinical populations are frequently misattributed solely to muscle weakness or poor balance. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that "hidden" risk factors—systemic, physiological, and psychological interactions—often play a more decisive role in precipitating falls. These invisible drivers, including urinary urgency, anxiety, nocturia, pelvic organ prolapse, polypharmacy, and sl

Most people think walking is a simple activity. We stand up, put one foot in front of the other and move from one place to another without giving it much thought. It is something we begin learning as toddlers and often take for granted until it becomes difficult. For healthcare professionals, however, walking is one of the most sophisticated tasks performed by the human body. Every step requires the seamless integration of multiple physiological systems working together in fr

In the UK, numerous women have transitioned from hopeful surgical candidates to enduring chronic pain, neurological damage, and significant mobility loss. Initially hailed as a revolutionary solution for pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence, transvaginal mesh has instead caused widespread harm. While the medical community increasingly acknowledges the clinical effects of mesh injury—such as erosion, contraction, and nerve entrapment—the challenge remains in integrati

Freedom of Movement Beyond Distance: What Disability Assessments Can Learn from Clinical Mobility Assessment By Deborah Casey – The Digital Clinician Modern healthcare increasingly recognises that human movement is complex. Walking is not simply the act of placing one foot in front of the other. It represents the integration of anatomy, physiology, cognition, sensation, confidence, endurance, environment and lived experience. Yet when movement is assessed for different purpos