Examining the relationship between physical fitness, risk of falling and fear of falling in elderly people with different physical activity levels

Purpose: To examine the relationship between health related physical fitness, falling risk and fear of falling in elderly with different physical activity levels (PAL). Methods: 45 elderly who are enrolled in İzmir Governorship Nebahat Dolman Elderly Service Center were included in this study. According to PASE (Physical Activity Scale for Elderly) results, cases were divided into two groups as group with low PAL (Group 1, n=27) and group with high PAL (Group 2, n=18). Muscle strenght, muscle endurance, aerobic endurance and flexibility tests were applied to cases, body mass index (BMI) were calculated, falling risk, dynamic balance and fear of falling were evaluated. . Results: While lower body strength, upper body endurance, aerobic endurance, extension and lateral flexion flexibility of trunk, BMI and dynamic balance of group 2 were significiantly better than group 1 (p<0,05), hamstring and flexion flexibility of trunk, falling risk and fear of falling of the groups were similar (p>0,05). In group 1, significiant relationship was found between falling risk and lower body strength, upper body endurance, aerobic endurance, extension, right and left lateral flexion flexibility of trunk (p<0,05). However in group 2, significiant relationship was found between falling risk and upper body endurance, aerobic endurance, right and left lateral flexion flexibility of trunk (p<0,05). On the assesments for fear of falling, there was a statistically significant relationship only between fear of falling and extension flexibility of trunk in group 1. Conclusion: In this research it was observed that high PAL improves physical fitness and dynamic balance, yet has no effect on risk of falling and fear of falling. Additionally, it was determined that improving physical fitness on elderly with different PAL, might decrease falling risk but has no effect on fear of falling. KeyWords: Aging, physical, activity, fitness, fall.