The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences
-
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci · Apr 2020
Observational StudyThe Association Between Physical Activity, Including Physical Activity Intensity, and Fear of Falling Differs by Fear Severity in Older Adults Living in the Community.
Fear of falling (FoF) is common in older adults. Physical activity decreases as FoF increases. However, this association between physical activity and FoF may vary depending on activity intensity. The current study was performed to explore the associations between FoF and step count, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in community-dwelling older adults. ⋯ Physical activity decreased concomitantly with a rise in FoF severity. Moreover, the association between physical activity and FoF differed by physical activity intensity level in community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are needed to investigate the causal relationship between FoF and objective physical activity in this population.