TY - JOUR PY - 2021// TI - Association of physical activity and physical functioning phenotypes with fall risk among women JO - Journal of aging and health A1 - Ylitalo, Kelly R. A1 - Karvonen-Gutierrez, Carrie A. A1 - Sternfeld, Barbara A1 - Pettee Gabriel, Kelley SP - ePub EP - ePub VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA) may slow aging-related declines in physical functioning (PF), but the relationship of PA and falls is not well understood. This study examined the association of PA and PF with falls.

METHODS: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation participants (n = 1597; age: 65.1 years ± 2.7) reported PF and PA in 2012-2013 and falls in 2016-2017. Four phenotypes were identified: high PA-high PF, high PA-low PF, low PA-high PF, and low PA-low PF.

RESULTS: One-third (29.3%) reported ≥1 fall. Women with low PA-low PF (RR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.66) and with high PA-low PF (RR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.74) were more likely to fall than high PA-high PF. Over time, women with worsening PF had increased fall risk (RR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.74), but women who increased PA did not.

DISCUSSION: Poor PF increases the risk of falls, regardless of PA. However, increasing PA does not necessarily increase fall risk, reinforcing the importance of PA engagement.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0898-2643 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0898264320988405 ID - ref1 ER -