Exercise and risk of injurious fall in home-dwelling elderly

Abstract

Objectives. To examine the relationship between different types of physical exercise and the risk of subsequent fall-related injury. Study Design. A prospective study of the home-dwelling elderly. Methods. A population sample of home-dwelling subjects aged 85 years or older (n=512) in northern Finland participated in the study. Baseline data were collected by home-nursing staff through postal questionnaires and clinical tests. Frequency and times of physical exercise - that is, walking exercise and other exercise (home exercise, group exercise, gardening, cross-country skiing, dancing, swimming, bicycling) - and falls were recorded by a nurse examiner, who telephoned the participants 8 times during a 2-year follow-up period. Statistical analyses were based on Cox regressions and pooled logistic regressions. Results. The risk of injury-causing falls was reduced by other exercise taken at least 1 hour per week compared with corresponding non-exercise; adjusted odds ratio 0.37 (0.19-0.72) but not by walking exercise. The risk of injury-causing falls was not increased by any kind or amount of exercise taken. Female sex, a history of recent fall-related injury and poor baseline near-vision acuity were the other significant predictors of injury-causing falls. Conclusions. Habitual physical exercise proved to be safe and some of the exercises were associated with reduced risk of subsequent fall-related injury. Female sex, an injury-causing fall in the recent past and problems with near vision increased the risk.