Citation

Hornyak V, Brach JS, Wert DM, Hile E, Studenski S, Vanswearingen JM. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2013; 94(12): 2529-2534.

Affiliation

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physical Therapy. Electronic address: vhornyak@pitt.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2013.06.013

PMID

23816923

Abstract

: Fear of falling (FOF) relates to participation in exercise, and FOF is related to reported physical function, but the association between FOF and total amount of daily activity performed by older adults has not been examined. OBJECTIVE: To describe the associations between FOF and total daily activity in older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Community-dwelling older adults. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults over 64 who were independent in ambulation with or without and assistive device. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fear of falling was defined by self-reported fear ratings using the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (SAFFE) and self reported fear status determined by response to the question "Are you afraid of falling?" Physical function was assessed using the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI). Physical Activity was recorded using an accelerometer worn on the waist for seven consecutive days and mean daily counts of activity per minute were averaged over the seven-day period. RESULTS: Fear ratings were related to total daily activity, r=-.26 p=.02. The relation was not as strong as the relation of function and physical activity, r=.45, p<.001. When stratified by exercise status or when stratified by functional status, fear was no longer related to total daily activity. Physical function explained 19% of the variance in physical activity, while the addition of fear status did not add to the explained variance in physical activity. CONCLUSION: Fear of falling is related to total daily physical activity but FOF was not independently associated with physical activity when accounting for physical function. Some fear of falling may be reported as a limitation in function.

Language: en