Physical Health and Fall Risk

Studies have shown that improved senior physical health decreases the risk of falling, even more than home modifications that are specifically designed to prevent falls.

A recent study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign concluded that seniors who are physically active in leisure or occupational or home chores like house cleaning or gardening report a greater feeling of self-esteem and quality of life.

In a study, A Global Report on Falls Prevention: Epidemiology of Falls [1], the World Health Organization presented research showing that seniors with muscle weakness are nearly five times more likely to fall. Regularly exercising and engaging in physical activity play a key role in lessening the risk of falls and the injuries associated with them. Regular exercise has proven to:

• Improve balance, coordination and mobility
• Slow and reduce the loss of muscle mass and strength that occur with age
• Improve joint health
• Strengthen bones, lowering the risk of osteoporosis and fractures

The Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University [2] also reports that the loss of muscle mass and function that comes with aging – a condition called Sarcopenia – increases the likelihood of falls and bone fractures among the elderly.

Other benefits of exercise for seniors include:

• Heightened self-confidence and mood
• Lowered risk of heart disease
• Reduced incidence of Dementia through improved circulation and memory
• Improved metabolism and weight loss
• Strengthened defenses against infection

Click here to read fun ideas for senior activities [3]!

Tufts’ Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory have proven the effectiveness of progressive weight resistance training in reversing muscle loss and frailty in seniors. The laboratory also has studied the role of nutrition in preventing Sarcopenia and the role of exercise in lowering seniors’ risks of other chronic conditions, such as Diabetes, Arthritis and Kidney Failure.