The relationship between physical fitness and falling risk and fear of falling in community-dwelling elderly people with different physical activity levels

The aim of this research was to determine the effects of physical activity level (PAL) and physical fitness on falling parameters in community-dwelling elderly people. Seventy-six elderly people were grouped as low PAL group (group 1, n: 38) and high PAL (group 2, n: 38) according to their PAL scores. PAL was measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly and muscle strength, muscle endurance, aerobic endurance, and flexibility tests were applied; body mass index (BMI) was calculated for physical fitness measurement. Fall assessment included falling risk (Berg Balance Scale), dynamic balance (Time Up and Go Test), and fear of falling (FOF) (Falls Efficacy Scale) evaluation. While physical fitness parameters except flexibility in group 2 were significantly better than they were in group 1 (P < 0.05), no significant difference was found between the groups with regard to fall assessments (P ˃ 0.05). In both groups, while physical fitness parameters except BMI showed a positive and low or medium significant correlation with falling risk and FOF, the same fitness parameters showed a negative and low or medium significant correlation with dynamic balance. The results show that PAL may have an indirect effect on fall parameters by increasing physical fitness.