scholarly journals Impact of Fear of Falling on Future Falls and Changes in Physical Activity in Older Adults With Glaucoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 769-770
Author(s):  
Pradeep Ramulu ◽  
Jian-Yu E ◽  
Aleksandra Mihailovic ◽  
Pei-Lun Kuo ◽  
Sheila West ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Visual Field Loss ◽  
Unit Change ◽  
Calendar Data

Abstract To understand how Fear of falling (FoF) alters mobility, FoF was evaluated annually in 243 older adults (median age=70) with varying degrees of visual field loss from glaucoma, and Rasch-analyzed FoF scores associated with the likelihood of falling in the following year (judged by prospective calendar data) and changes in physical activity (Judged by annual accelerometer trials). At lower FoF levels, each one-unit worsening in FoF was associated with a 2.73-fold higher odds of reporting a fall in the next year (95% CI:1.55,4.81) but not with average daily steps taken (p = 0.44). At higher FoF levels, inter-year changes in FoF were not significantly associated with a fall in the next year (p = 0.78); but were associated with 407 fewer daily steps taken per one-unit change in FoF (95% CI:-743,-71). FoF is an important driver of mobility; the specific aspects of mobility affected varies by the degree of FoF.

scholarly journals FIGS Study Outcomes: Disentangling Relationships Between Vision Loss, the Environment, Physical Activity, and Falls

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 769-769
Author(s):  
Pradeep Ramulu ◽  
Laura Gitlin ◽  
Jennifer Schrack
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Visual Fields ◽  
Environmental Features ◽  
Injurious Falls ◽  
Visual Field Damage

Abstract The longitudinal relationships between various aspects of mobility (with each other and with vision loss) are important to understand for healthy aging. The Falls in Glaucoma Study (FIGS) was a three-year longitudinal study conducted in persons with a range of visual field damage from glaucoma (from normal visual fields to severe visual field damage) and evaluated several aspects of mobility: physical function (gait and balance), physical activity (annual accelerometer trials), fall rates (prospectively-collected falls calendars), environmental features (an in-home assessment), and fear of falling. In this symposium, we present data demonstrating that: (1) physical activity is altered by visual field damage - lowering the overall amount of physical activity, and also resulting in more fragmented activity (i.e. shorter activity bouts); (2) specific home environmental features, such as better lighting, are associated with lower rates of falls within the home; (3) specific gait and balance features increase the risk of falling, but do not explain the association between visual field damage and a higher rate of falls; (4) injurious falls, but not non-injurious falls, lead to future reductions in physical activity; and (5) worsening of fear of falling (FoF) leads to either a higher rate of falls (at low FoF levels) or decreases in physical activity (at higher FoF levels). Study findings will educate the audience about the types of mobility problems found in persons with visual field damage, potential methods to prevent falls in older adults, and factors likely to predict future mobility deficits in older adults.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Daily Use of Bilateral Custom-Made Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Balance, Fear of Falling, and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Gerontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhong Wang ◽  
Rahul Goel ◽  
Hadi Rahemi ◽  
Qianzi Zhang ◽  
Brian Lepow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses

Background: Foot problems are prevalent in older adults, which may increase the risk and concern for falls. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) have been shown to be effective in the stabilization of lower extremities, but their long-term effectiveness in improving balance and their potential to encourage older adults to become more physically active are still debated. Objective: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of daily use of a custom-made AFO on balance, fear of falling, and physical activity in older adults. Study Design: Forty-four older adults with concern about or at risk for falling were randomly allocated to either the control group (CG; 77.3% female, age 75.6 ± 6.5 years, BMI 29.3 ± 6.4) or the intervention group (IG; 63.6% female, age 73.7 ± 6.3 years, BMI = 27.8 ± 4.8). The IG received walking shoes and bilateral custom-made AFO. The CG received only walking shoes. At the baseline and 6-month follow-ups, balance and physical activity were assessed using validated wearable instrumentation and fear of falling was assessed using the Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Adherence and acceptability toward wearing the AFO were assessed using self-reported questionnaires at the 6-month follow-up. Results: No significant between-group difference was observed at baseline (p = 0.144–0.882). Compared to baseline and the CG, hip, ankle, and center-of-mass (COM) sways were significantly reduced at the 6-month follow-up in the IG while standing with the feet together during the eyes-open condition (p = 0.005–0.040). Within the IG, the FES-I was reduced significantly (p = 0.036) and there was an increasing trend in the number of walking bouts with a medium effect size (d = 0.52, p = 0.440) compared to baseline. However, there were no significant changes in FES-I and physical activity measures in the CG (p = 0.122–0.894). The reduction in COM sway in the IG was moderately correlated with adherence (r = –0.484, p = 0.047) and strongly correlated with baseline COM sway (r = –0.903, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Results suggest that bilateral custom-made AFO plus walking shoes is effective in improving balance compared to walking shoes alone, and it significantly reduces the fear of falling, with a nonsignificant but noticeable positive trend in physical activity, compared to baseline. The results also suggest that older adults with poor balance at baseline and higher daily adherence to using the AFO will gain more benefit from the AFO intervention.

scholarly journals Greater Physical Activity Is Associated with Slower Visual Field Loss in Glaucoma

Ophthalmology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (7) ◽  
pp. 958-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moon Jeong Lee ◽  
Jiangxia Wang ◽  
David S. Friedman ◽  
Michael V. Boland ◽  
Carlos G. De Moraes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Visual Field Loss

Association of Visual Field Loss and Mobility Performance in Older Adults: Salisbury Eye Evaluation Study

2004 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 298-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATHLEEN A. TURANO ◽  
AIMEE T. BROMAN ◽  
KAREN BANDEEN-ROCHE ◽  
BEATRIZ MUNOZ ◽  
GARY S. RUBIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Visual Field Loss ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Mobility Performance

The Consequences of Glaucoma on Mobility and Balance Control in the Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Teresa Zwierko ◽  
Wojciech Jedziniak ◽  
Beata Florkiewicz ◽  
Halil İbrahim Ceylan ◽  
Piotr Lesiakowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Visual Field Defect ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Field Defect

The aim of the study was to explore the functional impairments and related factors in older adults with moderate to advanced stages of glaucoma. Nineteen patients with glaucoma and 19 participants with no ocular disease performed step test and balance control tasks with analysis of overall stability index and fall risk index. Monocular and binocular Humphrey Visual Field tests were used to estimate visual field defect severity. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure physical activity level. Patients with glaucoma showed poorer values for most of the mobility and balance control parameters with medium and large effect sizes (0.3–0.5). Mobility scores in patients were partly associated with their monocular visual field defect (rs = .507, p < .05). Low physical activity was identified as a risk factor for falls (rs = −.453, p < .05) and postural instability (rs = −.457, p < .05). Functional declines in dynamic tasks were not related to glaucoma severity. Older adults with glaucoma display impairment with mobility and balance control compared to controls, associated with the degree of monocular visual field loss and lower daily physical activity.

scholarly journals “You Have to Keep Moving, Be Active”: Perceptions and Experiences of Habitual Physical Activity in Older Women With Osteoporosis

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ing-Mari Dohrn ◽  
Agneta Ståhle ◽  
Kirsti Skavberg Roaldsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Impaired Balance ◽  
Context Specific

Background Physical activity (PA) is essential for older adults with osteoporosis, and health care professionals play important roles in promoting PA and encouraging patients to make healthy choices. However, many factors influence habitual PA, and there is only limited knowledge about the perceptions and experiences of PA among older women with osteoporosis. Objectives The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions and experiences of PA and the factors that influence habitual PA among older adults with osteoporosis, impaired balance, and fear of falling. Design This was a qualitative interview study applying interpretive content analysis with an inductive approach. Methods Informants were a purposeful sample of 18 women, aged 66 to 86 years, with osteoporosis, impaired balance, and fear of falling. Individual, semistructured, face-to-face interviews were recorded, transcribed, condensed, and coded to find subthemes and themes. Results The overall theme found was “Physical activity—a tool for staying healthy with osteoporosis.” This overall theme comprised 2 main themes interpreting the challenges and possibilities of being physically active with osteoporosis. These themes were not separate but rather linked to each other like 2 sides of the same coin, with factors that could act as both barriers to and facilitators of PA. Personal preferences and osteoporosis-related concerns influenced habitual PA, and individualization was perceived as important. Limitations Some results may be context specific and limit the transferability to people with other cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds. Conclusions The women perceived that PA was an important tool to maintain health with osteoporosis and believed that they had a responsibility to use this tool. They had adapted to disease-specific limitations and developed strategies to overcome challenges and barriers to PA. Lack of PA promotion and conflicting advice about PA from physicians created uncertainty. Encouragement and guidance from physical therapists, individually or in groups, were very important.

scholarly journals Characterizing Longitudinal Change in Physical Activity and Fear of Falling in Glaucoma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Yu E ◽  
Aleksandra Mihailovic ◽  
Jennifer A. Schrack ◽  
Tianjing Li ◽  
David S. Friedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
Longitudinal Changes ◽  
Injurious Falls ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Older adults with visual impairments experience a higher risk of falling, and are more vulnerable to adverse health consequences associated with falls than those with normal vision. This study aims to characterize the longitudinal changes of objectively measured physical activity and self-reported fear of falling (FoF) related to types of falls in visually impaired older adults. Methods: We obtained data from the Falls in Glaucoma Study (FIGS), a prospective cohort study that recruited 234 participants at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute from 2013 to 2015. Falls were defined as unintentionally coming to rest on the ground or a lower level, and injurious falls were determined though follow-up calls. Study participants were categorized into three groups – fallers with injurious consequences, fallers without injurious consequences, and non-fallers based on fall status in the first year. Physical activity was assessed using a waist-bound accelerometer (Actical). FoF was evaluated by questionnaire, with Rasch modeling generating FoF scores where higher scores reflected worse FoF. The three-year longitudinal changes of physical activity and FoF were modeled using mixed-effects models. Results: In linear models fully adjusted for visual field damage and other covariates, physical activity among injurious fallers declined 425 steps/year (95% confidence interval [CI]: -793, -57), 13 active minutes/year (95% CI: -21, -6), and 3 minutes/year of moderate/vigorous activity (95% CI: -5, 0) more over the three-year study period compared to non-fallers; however, physical activity did not decline among non-injurious fallers. No longitudinal increases in FoF scores were observed in injurious or non-injurious fallers.Conclusions: Among visually impaired older adults, injurious falls identified prospectively over 12 months contributed to a significant decline in physical activity over a three-year period, while no significant increases were observed for FoF. Further longitudinal research is warranted to better understand how different groups respond to falls, either via behavioral changes and/or changes in FoF, and to characterize the impact of reduced physical activity in fallers.

scholarly journals Using Assistive Health Technology to Assess Fall Risk Appraisal, Body Composition, and Physical Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 28-28
Author(s):  
Ladda Thiamwong ◽  
Joon-Hyuk Park ◽  
Renoa Choudhury ◽  
Oscar Garcia ◽  
Maxine Furtado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Fall Risk ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Bioelectrical Impedance ◽  
Impedance Analysis ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Risk Appraisal

Abstract One-third of older adults have a discrepancy between perceived and physiological fall risks or maladaptive fall risk appraisal (FRA). Older adults who report high fear of falling and overestimate their physiological fall risk are less likely to participate in physical activity (PA). Limited data suggest the interrelation between fall risk appraisal, body composition, and objective measured PA. This cross-sectional study examines the feasibility of recruitment and acceptability of Assistive Health Technology (AHT), including the BTrackS Balance System (BBS), Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (InBody s10), and ActiGraph GT9X Link wireless activity monitor. This study demonstrates the benefits of using AHT to study the associations among FRA, body composition, and PA in older adults. We hypothesize that rational FRA is associated with higher levels of PA and skeletal muscle mass and lower levels of percent of body fat and body mass index. Topics presentation included research protocol and preliminary results.

Daily Physical Activity in Older Age

GeroPsych ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lea O. Wilhelm ◽  
Theresa Pauly ◽  
Maureen C. Ashe ◽  
Christiane A. Hoppmann
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Daily Physical Activity ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Subjective Experiences

Abstract. Affective barriers like negative affect (time-varying subjective state) or fear of falling (person-trait) may reduce daily physical activity among older adults. A group of 123 community-dwelling older adults ( Mage = 71.83, range = 64–85, 63% women) from Canada participated in a 10-day time-sampling study. We used accelerometer-assessed physical activity, assessing negative affect three times per day and fear of falling once prior to the 10-day period. Using multilevel models, we noted considerable variability in physical activity between days (activity counts: 47%; steps: 55%). We found time-varying negative associations between daily physical activity and daily negative affect. Fear of falling was not related to daily physical activity. Findings point to the merit of examining time-varying differences in subjective experiences when looking for physical activity barriers in older age.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document