Physical fitness, balance and falls in older adults

Abstract

Introduction. In The second leading worldwide cause of deaths regards accidental injury and concern individuals aged 65 or above. Falls are preventable, but the consequences of falls can lead to injuries and result in loss of independence. The present study aims to analyse the relationships between risk of fall, physical activity level (PA level) and physical fitness among elderly practitioners of physical exercise interventions. Basic procedures. The data were collected through a demographic questionnaire; history of falls; PA level and physical fitness. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM® SPSS®, version 24.0 for Windows (p≤0.05). Main findings. Sixty-two seniors participated in the study. These subjects took part in physical exercise programmes from the community of Beja, Portugal (females: n=48; 77.4%), with an average age of 73.27±5.45 years. Results. It was found that elderly people with lower levels of strength, balance and cardiorespiratory fitness are at a higher risk of falls (p<0.05). There were no relationships between the risk of falls and the PA level. Conclusions. The results highlight the need for more specific research about strength and balance interventions in older adults that report falls, in particular, the identification of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors to prevent falls.