Components of physical fitness as prognostic factors for falls in elderly female exercise practitioners: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Introduction: Physical exercise is used as a strategy for the prevention of falls because it improves the physical fitness of older adults. Objective: To determine which components of physical fitness are predictors of falls in elderly female exercise practitioners. Method: Longitudinal, descriptive, comparative study. The components of physical fitness (upper and lower limb strength and flexibility, agility, aerobic endurance, and hand grip strength) and the occurrence or not of falls in the last 12 months were analyzed in 80 older women practitioners of exercise from 2013 to 2016. Descriptive analysis, ROC curve attributing cut-off points, and binary logistic regression for the prediction of falls were used. Results: The mean age of the participants was 67.46 years (SD=7.65). Over the years, a significant difference between elderly fallers and non-fallers was observed for right hand grip strength (2013 and 2015), left hand grip strength (2014 and 2015), lower limb flexibility (2013, 2014 and 2015), agility (2015), and aerobic endurance (2015). In adjusted analysis, older women with poor lower limb flexibility in 2013 had a higher risk of falls in 2016 (OR=4.98; 95%CI 1.12 – 22.1). Older women with poor flexibility in 2015 also had a higher risk of falls (OR= 6.08; 95%CI 1.06 – 34.67). Conclusion: Poor performance in the lower limb flexibility, right and left hand grip strength, agility and aerobic endurance tests was associated with falls and these components are predictors of future falls in elderly exercise practitioners.