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What are the Main Physical Functioning Factors Associated With Falls Among Older People With Different Perceived Fall Risk?
Author(s) -
Moreira Mirian N.,
Bilton Tereza L.,
Dias Rosangela C.,
Ferriolli Eduardo,
Perracini Monica R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
physiotherapy research international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.509
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1471-2865
pISSN - 1358-2267
DOI - 10.1002/pri.1664
Subject(s) - fear of falling , fall prevention , injury prevention , poison control , test (biology) , falling (accident) , human factors and ergonomics , suicide prevention , odds , cross sectional study , medicine , occupational safety and health , odds ratio , physical therapy , population , psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , logistic regression , environmental health , paleontology , pathology , biology
Background and Purpose Fall risk perceptions may influence the judgement over physical and functional competencies to avoid falls. However, few studies have explored the physical functioning characteristics associated with falls among older people with low perceived fall risk. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of falls and physical functioning factors associated with falling among community‐dwelling older adults with low and high perceived fall risk. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional population based study with 773 community‐dwelling elders. Perceived fall risk was investigated using Falls Efficacy Scale International . We considered fallers those who reported at least one fall in the previous 12 months. Physical functioning measures used were grip strength, usual gait speed, sit‐to‐stand test, five step test, timed up and go test, one‐legged stance test, anterior and lateral functional reach test. Results At least one fall was reported by 103 (30%) participants with low perceived fall risk and by 196 (46%) participants with high perceived fall risk. The odds of falling were lower among those with greater grip strength and with a greater stance time in one‐legged test, and the odds of falling among elders with high perceived fall risk were higher among those who took more time in performing the five step test. Discussion We believe that our results highlight the need of not neglecting the risk of falls among active older adults with low perceived fall risk, particularly in those elders that show reduced stability in a small base of support and a lower leg strength. In addition, we suggest that elders with high perceived fall risk should be assessed using anticipatory postural adjustment tests. Particularly, our results may help physiotherapists to identify eligible elders with different perceptions of fall risk for tailored interventions aimed at reducing falls. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.