In older populations, walking stands as the most commonly chosen form of exercise, yet its effect on falls remains uncertain. To delve deeper into this issue, a recent study delved into the repercussions of a 48-week walking program on falls among older individuals.
The study involved 386 physically inactive individuals aged 65 years and above, residing in community settings, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received a 48-week walking program, consisting of self-paced activity guided by three mailed printed manuals and supplemented with telephone coaching. Meanwhile, control group participants received health-related information unrelated to falls, concurrently with the distribution of walking program materials. Falls were monitored using monthly calendars over the 48-week period, serving as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included self-reported quality of life, falls efficacy, exercise and walking levels. Additionally, a sub-sample of participants (n = 178) underwent assessments for mobility, leg strength, and choice stepping reaction time.
The results revealed no significant difference in fall rates between the intervention and control groups during the follow-up period (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] = 0.88, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.60-1.29). However, by the study's conclusion, participants in the intervention group demonstrated a noteworthy increase in overall exercise time, particularly in walking for exercise, compared to the control group (median 1.69 versus 0.75 hours/week, P < 0.001).
In summary, the findings suggest that while a walking program may not effectively prevent falls, it does contribute to elevated levels of physical activity among previously inactive older individuals. This outcome echoes previous research and raises questions regarding the suitability of advocating walking as a primary strategy for fall prevention in older populations. Nonetheless, walking remains a valuable means to enhance physical activity levels in this demographic.
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