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A Prospective Study of the Effect of Fracture on Measured Physical Performance: Results from the MacArthur Study – MAC
Author(s) -
Greendale Gail A.,
DeAmicis Tracy A.,
Bucur Alexander,
Bretsky Phil,
Rowe John W.,
Reuben David B.,
Seeman Teresa
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2000.tb05001.x
Subject(s) - medicine , grip strength , hip fracture , wrist , physical therapy , prospective cohort study , hand strength , cohort study , balance (ability) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , cohort , surgery , osteoporosis
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of fractures on measured physical performance and to assess whether specific fractures have unique sequelae. SUBJECTS: 762 men and women, aged 70 to 79 at baseline, who were part of the MacArthur Study of Successful Aging. DESIGN: A longitudinal case‐cohort: those with prevalent fractures at baseline were excluded; cases were persons with a medically diagnosed hip, arm, spine, or wrist fracture during the follow‐up period (1988–1995). MEASURES: Eight physical performance tests: turning a circle, walking fast, chair stands, timed tap, tandem stand, grip strength, single leg stand, and balance (average of single leg and tandem stands) measured at baseline and follow‐up. ANALYSIS: Two fracture groups were defined: (1) those with incident wrist fractures (n = 7) and (2) those with a fracture of the hip, arm, or spine (combined fractures group, n = 16). Change in physical performance was analyzed using crude, age‐adjusted, and multiply‐adjusted ANCOVA models. RESULTS: The combined fracture group demonstrated statistically significant ( P < .05) declines seven of eight of the performance tests compared with individuals without fractures. In contrast, individuals with wrist fractures did not experience a statistically significant decline in any performance measure compared with the no fracture group. CONCLUSIONS: Relative to those without fractures, individuals with a hip, arm, or clinical spinal fracture show similar global declines in physical performance, whereas those with wrist fracture demonstrate no physical performance decrements. J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 546–549, 2000 .