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. 2021 Jul 6;18(14):7243.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147243.

Physical Fitness among Community-Dwelling Older Women with and without Risk of Falling-The Taipei Study, Taiwan

Chen-Yi Song  1 , Jau-Yih Tsauo  2 , Pei-Hsin Fang  3 , I-Yao Fang  3 , Shao-Hsi Chang  4
Affiliations

Physical Fitness among Community-Dwelling Older Women with and without Risk of Falling-The Taipei Study, Taiwan

Chen-Yi Song et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to compare the differences in physical fitness between community-dwelling older women fallers and non-fallers, with and without a risk of falling, and to investigate the relation between physical fitness and falling risk factors. This study was a secondary data analysis from a community- and exercise-based fall-prevention program. Baseline assessments pertaining to body weight and height, self-reported chronic diseases, the 12-item fall risk questionnaire (FRQ), senior fitness test, single-leg stand test, and handgrip strength test were extracted. Participants (n = 264) were classified into fallers and non-fallers, and sub-classified according to the risk of falling (FRQ ≥4 and <4). While controlling for the effect of age, body mass index (BMI), and multimorbidity, one-way analysis of covariance indicated that older women with a risk of falling showed poorer performances of the 8-foot up-and-go, 2-min step and 30-s chair stand compared with those without a risk of falling, regardless of the history of falls. Additionally, weaker grip strength was found in non-fallers with falling risk. Some significant, but low-to-moderate, correlations were found between physical fitness tests and fall risk factors in the FRQ, particularly in gait/balance problem and leg muscle weakness. Proactive efforts are encouraged to screen and manage deterioration in the identified physical fitness.

Keywords: aged; elderly; fall risk; falls; senior fitness test.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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