Fall Risk for Older Adults is Impacted by the Frequency and Intensity of Physical Activity

Engaging in physical activity is known to prevent falls in older adults, however the relative influence of the intensity, duration and frequency of physical activity is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between fall history and the frequency, duration, and caloric expenditure of both low and moderate/high intensity physical activity. Using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors questionnaire, weekly frequency, duration, and estimated caloric expenditure were calculated for both low and moderate/high-intensity physical activity for community-dwelling older adult (fallers (n=18); non-fallers (n=15)). Moderate/high-intensity physical activity regression models were significant for identifying fallers while low-intensity physical activity models were not. Further, the non-faller cohort engaged in significantly greater weekly frequency relative to duration of moderate/high-intensity physical activity than non-fallers. This primary research demonstrates the importance of frequency in addition to the duration of moderate/high-intensity physical activity in decreasing the likelihood of community-dwelling older adults being identified as a faller.