Article

Previous work demonstrates the consequences of falling in older adults
and the potential of physical activity (PA) to reduce falls, but few studies have
used accelerometer-measured PA to compare overall and time-of-day activity
patterns of nonfallers, fallers, or subgroups of fallers.
METHODS: In 840
participants (mean age, 66.7 ;
s = 13.2; range, 26-97) of the Baltimore
Longitudinal Study of Aging between 2007 and 2014, PA was measured objectively
with Actiheart accelerometers and falling status (faller/nonfaller) was assessed
during an in-person interview. Differences in daily PA and PA by time-of-day were
assessed using multiple linear regression. Differences in PA (multiple linear
regression), and functional status (chi) were further examined in subgroups of
"risky" or "normal" fallers. RESULTS: Overall, fallers and nonfallers exhibited
similar daily (beta = 22.6, P = 0.48) and time-specific PA; however, those who
fell doing risky activities were more active overall (beta = 243.8, P = 0.002),
during the morning (beta = 77.3, P = 0.004), afternoon (beta = 78.4, P = 0.001),
and late afternoon/evening (beta = 56.3, P = 0.006) than those who fell doing
normal activities. Risky fallers were significantly higher functioning than
normal fallers. CONCLUSIONS: Persons who fell while engaging in normal activities
exhibited lower PA overall and throughout most of the day, and were of lower
functional status than persons who fell while engaging in risky or unusual
activities, suggesting that engagement in risky or unusual PA is associated with
higher functional ability and lower falls risk in older persons.

Langue : ANGLAIS