Performance in Strength Tests are Related to the History of Falls in the Elderly Women

• Published in: Ageing international Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 695 - 704
• Main Authors: Noronha, Ádria Samara N., Barbalho, Matheus, Coswig, Victor S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerobic exercise; Aging; Chi-square test; Countermovements; Elderly women; Exercise; Falls; Flexibility; Gait; History; Injury prevention; Limbs; Muscle strength; Older people; Older women; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Power; Social Sciences; Womens health; Falls prevention; Older adult; Resistance training
• ISSN: 0163-5158; 1936-606X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12126-021-09447-5

To evaluate the physical fitness of older women enrolled in physical exercises programs and their correlation with falls history rates in this population. Nineteen older adults (60.3 ± 4.2 years and 65.9 ± 10.2kgs) participated in the study. A descriptive analysis was performed to verify the following physical components: muscle power, aerobic endurance, gait speed, agility/dynamic balance, muscular endurance, flexibility, and strength. The Downton scale and the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) were also applied. The sample was grouped by the history of falls as HF = 0 (history of falls equal to zero in the last year) or HF ≥ 1 (history of falls higher than 1 in the last year). Chi-square test was used to verify possible relations between IPAQ scores and history of falls. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between groups and each dependent variable. Also, independent sample t- tests were applied to test absolute differences between groups. According to the IPAQ, 37.5% as 18.1% were physically active from those reporting HF = 0 and HF > 1, respectively (p = 0.03). Also, the results showed that the occurrence of falls when subjects present greater body mass (p = 0.03), and lower limb muscle strength (p = 0.02), endurance (p = 0.01) and power (Countermovement jump: p = 0.04, Squat jump: p = 0.04). Thus, it is possible to conclude that physical activity levels and performance in strength tests should be monitored in the older adults’ population, while exercise programs aiming to improve these parameters are suggested as strategy to preventing falls.