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Gait, gait variability and the risk of multiple incident falls in older people: a population-based study
Citation
Callisaya, M and Blizzard, L and Schmidt, MD and Martin, KL and McGinley, JL and Sanders, LM and Srikanth, Vk, Gait, gait variability and the risk of multiple incident falls in older people: a population-based study, Age and Ageing, 40, (4) pp. 481-487. ISSN 0002-0729 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 British Geriatrics Society
DOI: doi:10.1093/ageing/afr055
Abstract
Background: it is uncertain as to which measures of gait best predict those who are likely to fall. Our aim was to investigate
the associations of gait and gait variability measures with incident falls risk.
Methods: individuals aged 6086 years (n = 412) were randomly selected from the Tasmanian electoral roll. Average gait
and gait variability measures were collected on a computerised walkway. Falls were recorded prospectively over 12 months.
Log multinomial regression was used to estimate the relative risk of single and multiple falls associated with gait measures.
Covariates included age, sex, sensorimotor and cognitive measures, mood and medications.
Results: in this population-based study greater intra-individual variability in step length and double-support phase were linearly
associated with increased risk of multiple falls (P = 0.04). Non-linear associations with multiple falls were found for
gait speed P = 0.002, cadence P = 0.004 and step time variability P = 0.03. None of the gait measures predicted risk of
single falls.
481
Gait, gait variability and the risk of multiple incident falls in older people
Downloaded from http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Tasmania Library on June 3, 2012
Conclusion: there is an increased risk of multiple falls, but not single falls, in older people with poorer gait. Specific
measures of gait and gait variability seem to confer this risk and may be amenable to interventions designed to reduce the
risk of multiple falls in older people.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | gait; falls; older people; population-based; elderly |
| Research Division: | Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Epidemiology |
| Research Field: | Epidemiology not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) |
| Objective Field: | Health related to ageing |
| UTAS Author: | Callisaya, M (Dr Michele Callisaya) |
| UTAS Author: | Blizzard, L (Professor Leigh Blizzard) |
| UTAS Author: | Schmidt, MD (Dr Michael Schmidt) |
| UTAS Author: | Martin, KL (Dr Kara Martin) |
| UTAS Author: | Srikanth, Vk (Dr Velandai Srikanth) |
| ID Code: | 77990 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 193 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2012-06-12 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-06 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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