Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty
Published on: October 6, 2016
Functional status among elderly Norwegian fallers living at home
A Bergland1, A M Pettersen, K Laake
1University Section, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Difficulty maintaining balance while walking is the strongest predictor of falls in older adults. Other factors include heart issues, depression, and higher BMI, but not general health or anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Falls are a major cause of disability in older adults.
- Mitigating fall risk is crucial for maintaining independence in aging populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between self-reported health, functioning, and falling in community-dwelling older adults.
- To identify predictors of falls in the elderly population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 431 Norwegian adults aged 67-97.
- Assessed physical health (MFAQ, BMI), general/psychosocial health (GHQ-20, MMSE).
- Recorded falls in the preceding six months.
Main Results:
- 24.1% of participants reported at least one fall.
- Perceived difficulty in balance, heart pounding/shortness of breath, depression, and higher BMI were associated with increased falls.
- Perceived difficulty in keeping balance during walking was the strongest predictor.
Conclusions:
- Difficulty maintaining walking balance is a key indicator for fall risk in older adults.
- Unlike some studies, this research found no association between anxiety, general health, and falling.
More Related Videos
04:13Using a Real-Time Locating System to Measure Walking Activity Associated with Wandering Behaviors Among Institutionalized Older Adults
Published on: February 8, 2019
06:52Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
