The relationship between time spent outdoors, falls, and fall-risk among the community-dwelling elderly in rural Japan

Home Healthc Nurse. 2009 Oct;27(9):570-7. doi: 10.1097/01.NHH.0000361930.29797.9b.

Abstract

Falls are a major health concern among the older adults, and physical activity has been linked to fall-risk. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the relationship between time spent outdoors and the frequency of falls and fall-risk among the older adults in two rural Japanese communities. In Okikamuro, there was a positive correlation between fall-risk and age (r = 0.40, p < 0.001), as well as a slight negative correlation between the time spent outdoors and fall-risk (r = -0.20, p < 0.05). In Iwasaki, there was no correlation between fall-risk and age nor between fall-risk and the time spent outdoors; however, fall-risk was significantly higher in Iwasaki (p < 0.05) than Okikamuro and the time spent outdoors during winter was significantly less (p < .001).

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data*
  • Activities of Daily Living*
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population
  • Seasons