Physical Activity Patterns and Their Impact on Fall Risk in Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis

Falls are a significant risk for older adults, often leading to severe injuries. Physical activity (PA) can reduce fall risk, but most studies focus on individual PA types rather than combined patterns. This study uses Latent Class Analysis to explore PA patterns among older adults and their relationship with falls, considering sex differences. Data were drawn from the 2023 Korean Community Health Survey (N = 68,996, aged ≥65 years). Participants' engagement in vigorous PA, moderate PA, walking, and flexibility exercises was used to classify latent subgroups separately by sex. Logistic regression examined associations between PA subgroups and fall experience, reporting adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Four PA subgroups were identified for each sex. Among males, no significant differences in fall risk were observed across PA subgroups after adjusting for confounders (all aORs, p > .05). Among females, those engaging only in walking or walking plus flexibility exercises showed a significantly higher fall risk compared to the most active group (moderate PA, walking, and flexibility exercises). Specifically, the Walk-only group had an aOR of 1.13 (95% CI [1.00, 1.27]), and the Walk/Flex group had an aOR of 1.09 (95% CI [1.01, 1.16]). Participation in multiple types and intensities of PA was associated with a lower risk of falls, particularly among women. Sex-specific differences in PA patterns should inform fall prevention strategies. Encouraging older adults to engage in combinations of moderate-intensity PA, walking, and flexibility exercises may reduce falls and support healthy aging.