地域在住高齢者における運動機能に対する自信の有無による運動機能の差異：転倒恐怖感との比較

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the difference of physical ability depending on the presence or absence of confidence in motor function (CIMF) and fear of falling (FOF) in independently living community-dwelling older adults. Participants in this study were 368 community-dwelling older adults (mean age±SD, 72.2±5.7 years) without instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) problems who participated in a comprehensive health check-up. CIMF (existence or non-existence), FOF (existence or non-existence), past medical history, history of a fall within the past year, and self-rated health were assessed by interview. Physical ability [grip strength, one-leg standing (OLS), maximum walking speed (MWS), and timed up & go test (TUG)] was also measured. Our results revealed significantly more older adults with FOF and without CIMF than expected, indicating that CIMF might be a component factor in FOF. Two-way ANOVA adjusted for sex and age showed main effects of the CIMF factor on grip strength, OLS, and TUG, indicating that these physical abilities are reduced in participants without CIMF, regardless of FOF. On the other hand, we found a main effect of the FOF factor on MWS. Logistic regression analysis showed that frequency of going outdoors, self-rated health, arthropathy, and OLS were factors associated with CIMF. Our results suggest that CIMF is a useful screening tool for older adults with potential problems and evaluation of intervention for health promotion in community-dwelling older adults without IADL problems.