Health Policy Manag.  2022 Mar;32(1):21-28. 10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.1.21.

Regular Physical Exercise and Falling in Middle-Aged and Elderly Population: Results from Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing

• Jeong S
• Lee HJ
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2534948
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.1.21

Abstract

Background
To investigate the association between regular physical exercise and falling experience for 2 years and fear of falling (FOF) in Korean middle-aged and elderly population.
Methods
Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging was used and 3,871 participants who exercised regularly were included at 2006 and follow-up until 2018. An analysis was performed to investigate the association between exercise (exercise time per week and duration) and falls (experience over past 2 years and FOF) using the generalized estimating equation model.
Results
Compared to those who exercised more than 5 hours a week (reference group), those who exercised less than 3 hours were more likely to experience falls and FOF (odds ratio [OR], 1.334; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.059–1.682; OR, 1.218; 95% CI, 1.119– 1.326, respectively). Compared to the group who exercised for more than 5 years, those who exercised for less than 1 year were more likely to experience FOF (OR, 1.310; 95% CI, 1.162–1.478).
Conclusion
This study showed that there was a negative relationship between physical exercise time and falling experience and FOF in Korean 45 years or more community-dwelling adults. Based on these results, physical activity can be expected to have a positive effect on fall prevention, which implies the need for policy and research on long-term physical activity programs.

Keyword

Elderly; Exercise; Falling; Fear of falling