Different Models of Everyday Physical Activity and Occurrence of Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults and Middle-Aged Citizens

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the association between physical activity (PA), in accordance with the WHO recommendations for weekly activities, and the occurrence of falls over a one-year period. The study was conducted among 150 individuals aged 48 to 88 years living in the Polish city of Łódź during the Community Festive event. Methods: Data from 150 participants (131 women and 19 men) were assessed using the Tinetti scale, Time Up & Go (TUG), Hand Grip Strength (HGS), and a structured face-to-face interview regarding retrospective fall incidents over the past 12 months and the weekly volume of PA. Results: A total of 29 participants experienced a fall (all of whom were women) while 121 individuals reported no fall. In the non-fall group, higher percentage of individuals met the WHO physical activity guidelines compared to the fall group (74% vs. 61.1% to 48.3%). Furthermore, individuals without the history of falls achieved better results in the RHGS (p = 0.02) and Tinetti tests (p = 0.04). Notably, individuals in the fall group reported engaging in more aerobic activity on average than those in the non-fall group. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that older adults and middle-aged individuals without a history of falls reported a higher compliance with weekly resistance training. While multivariable models show that raw physical activity volume is not an independent predictor of fall risk, training compliance aligns with superior objective neuromuscular performance, showing positive associations with RHGS and Tinetti scores.