Levels of Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity in Older Adults With a Mismatch Between Physiological Fall Risk and Fear of Falling
Ladda Thiamwong, Rui Xie, Joon‐Hyuk Park, Renoa Choudhury, Ayse Malatyali, Wenjun Li, Elizabeth Eckstrom, Jeffrey R. Stout
Abstract
We examined the associations between levels of accelerometer-based physical activity and the mismatch of physiological fall risk and fear of falling (FOF) in community-dwelling older adults. We assessed 123 participants who received 7-day wrist-worn accelerometry. Physiological fall risk was assessed using the portable BTrackS™ balance system and FOF was assessed using a short version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Participants were categorized into four groups: rational (low FOF/normal balance), irrational (high FOF/normal balance), incongruent (low FOF/poor balance), and congruent (high FOF/poor balance). One third of older adults had a mismatch between their FOF and actual fall risk. Accelerometer-based moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly different in the irrational group compared to the rational group ( p = 0.023) and the congruent group compared to the rational group ( p = 0.032). Encouraging older adults to improve MVPA may prevent them from shifting from rational to irrational or congruent groups, thereby reducing the risk of injurious falls. [ Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49 (6), 41–49.]