OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between different types of physical exercise and the risk of subsequent fall-related injury. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of the home-dwelling elderly. METHODS: A population sample of home-dwelling subjects aged 85 years or older (n = 512) in northern Finland participated in the study. Baseline data were collected by home-nursing staff through postal questionnaires and clinical tests. Frequency and times of physical exercise--that is, walking exercise and other exercise (home exercise, group exercise, gardening, cross-country skiing, dancing, swimming, bicycling)--and falls were recorded by a nurse examiner, who telephoned the participants 8 times during a 2-year follow-up period. Statistical analyses were based on Cox regressions and pooled logistic regressions. RESULTS: The risk of injury-causing falls was reduced by other exercise taken at least 1 hour per week compared with corresponding non-exercise; adjusted odds ratio 0.37 (0.19-0.72) but not by walking exercise. The risk of injury-causing falls was not increased by any kind or amount of exercise taken. Female sex, a history of recent fall-related injury and poor baseline near-vision acuity were the other significant predictors of injury-causing falls. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual physical exercise proved to be safe and some of the exercises were associated with reduced risk of subsequent fall-related injury. Female sex, an injury-causing fall in the recent past and problems with near vision increased the risk.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between different types of physical exercise and the risk of subsequent fall-related injury. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of the home-dwelling elderly. METHODS: A population sample of home-dwelling subjects aged 85 years or older (n = 512) in northern Finland participated in the study. Baseline data were collected by home-nursing staff through postal questionnaires and clinical tests. Frequency and times of physical exercise--that is, walking exercise and other exercise (home exercise, group exercise, gardening, cross-country skiing, dancing, swimming, bicycling)--and falls were recorded by a nurse examiner, who telephoned the participants 8 times during a 2-year follow-up period. Statistical analyses were based on Cox regressions and pooled logistic regressions. RESULTS: The risk of injury-causing falls was reduced by other exercise taken at least 1 hour per week compared with corresponding non-exercise; adjusted odds ratio 0.37 (0.19-0.72) but not by walking exercise. The risk of injury-causing falls was not increased by any kind or amount of exercise taken. Female sex, a history of recent fall-related injury and poor baseline near-vision acuity were the other significant predictors of injury-causing falls. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual physical exercise proved to be safe and some of the exercises were associated with reduced risk of subsequent fall-related injury. Female sex, an injury-causing fall in the recent past and problems with near vision increased the risk.
Authors: Loretta Dipietro; Wayne W Campbell; David M Buchner; Kirk I Erickson; Kenneth E Powell; Bonny Bloodgood; Timothy Hughes; Kelsey R Day; Katrina L Piercy; Alison Vaux-Bjerke; Richard D Olson Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 5.411
Authors: Benjamin T Schumacher; John Bellettiere; Michael J LaMonte; Kelly R Evenson; Chongzhi Di; I-Min Lee; David A Sleet; Charles B Eaton; Cora E Lewis; Karen L Margolis; Lesley F Tinker; Andrea Z LaCroix Journal: J Aging Phys Act Date: 2021-10-09 Impact factor: 2.109