Key result
A 16-week multimodal exercise program reduces concerns about falling without changing neuroendocrine or inflammatory markers.
Why the study?
Concerns about falling are common in older adults and may act as a chronic stressor affecting physical activity, psychological well-being, and physiological regulation.
Does a 16-week multimodal exercise program improve concerns about falling, stress pathways, and peripheral inflammation in community-dwelling older adults aged ≥70 years?
RCT (n=160)
randomized
Does a 16-week multimodal exercise program improve concerns about falling, stress pathways, and peripheral inflammation in community-dwelling older adults aged ≥70 years?
A 16-week multimodal exercise program reduces psychological concerns about falling in older adults but does not significantly alter physiological stress or inflammatory markers.
Supports multimodal exercise for fall concerns in older adults; challenges neuroendocrine/inflammatory mediation.
Introduction: Concerns about falling (CaF) are common in older adults and may act as a chronic stressor affecting physical activity, psychological well-being and physiological regulation. This study examined the impact of a 16-week multimodal exercise intervention on CaF, stress pathways, and peripheral inflammation in older adults. Methods: In the randomized, controlled FEARFALL study, 160 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥70 years) were assigned to either an intervention group (IG) or a sham control group (SCG). The IG received a multimodal exercise program, while the SCG engaged in low-intensity activities. Three psychological questionnaires were used to assess CaF: Falls Efficacy Scale-International [FES-I] (fear of falling); Falls Efficacy Scale-International Avoidance Behavior [FES-IAB] (avoidance behavior); Updated Perceived Control of Falling Scale [UP-CoF] (perceived control). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity was determined using saliva samples (cortisol, alpha-amylase), inflammatory markers using blood samples (C-reactive protein [CRP], Interleukin 6 [IL-6]). Results: = .014), while other neuroendocrine and inflammatory markers remained unchanged. Conclusion: A multimodal short-term intervention reduced psychological aspects of CaF, while physiological stress and inflammatory parameters may require more intensive or longer-term interventions. Findings support CaF as a biopsychosocial stressor and highlight the efficacy of multimodal programs in enhancing coping in older adults.
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Müller et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Concerns about falling (n=160). Multimodal exercise program vs. Sham control group (low-intensity activities) was evaluated on Concerns about falling, stress pathways, and peripheral inflammation (p== .014). A 16-week multimodal exercise program reduced psychological aspects of concerns about falling (P=0.014), while neuroendocrine and inflammatory markers remained unchanged.
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