Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of fear of falling among a population of older adults and its correlation with mobility, dynamic balance, risk and history of falls. Methods: This was a randomized cross-sectional study. The participants were 147 older adults between the ages of 60 and 92: 94 women (65.95%) and 53 men (36.05%). Fear of falling was assessed using FES-I-BRAZIL (FIB); mobility, using the "timed up and go" (TUG) test; risk of falls, using the "functional reach test" (FRT); and dynamic balance, using the "tandem gait test"(TGT). Results: One hundred and thirty-three older adults (90.48%) reported fear of falling in at least one activity and 80 older adults (54.42%) had a history of falls (HF). Pearson's correlation was statistically significant (p<0.001) between fear of falling and the TGT (r=-0.44248), FRT (r=-0.51562), HF (r=0.54069), TUG (r=0.45738) and age (r=0.39772). Conclusions: The present study identified high prevalence of fear of falling among older adults in the community, independent of their history of falls, and significant correlations between fear of falling and mobility, dynamic balance, risk and history of falls.Key words: fear of falling; accidents due to falls; older adult; mobility limitation; musculoskeletal balance. ResumoObjetivos: Investigar a prevalência do medo de cair em uma população de idosos da comunidade e sua correlação com mobilidade,

No abstract

Handgrip strength can be a useful tool to identify mobility limitation in clinical practice. Interventions to prevent or minimize impacts of sarcopenia should stimulate physical activity and improvement of body composition in addition to the management of chronic diseases and disabilities.

Background: Aging compromises the ability of the central nervous system to maintain body balance and reduces the capacity for