The correlation between fear of falling and upper extremity muscle strength

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between fear of falling (FOF) and upper extremity muscle strength. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 112 hospitalized, mobile patients. Forty-seven (42%) were males and 65 (58%) were females, and the mean age was 72.3. The study was carried out between September 2018 and September 2019 at Balikli Rum Hospital Nursing Homes, Istanbul, Turkey. Patients were tested using geriatric tools (such as Mini-Mental State Examination) and physical tests such as handgrip, key pinch and 6-meter up and go tests. Results: The average annual falling number of elderly people with FOF was statistically significantly higher than that in those without FOF ( p =0.001). Right handgrip, left handgrip, right key pinch, and left key-pinch mean values in elderly individuals with FOF were statistically significantly lower than those without FOF ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The measurement of upper extremity strength could be a predicting parameter of FOF.

Comments on: The correlation between fear of falling and upper extremity muscle strength

“…The authors also acknowledged that the data are observational due to the study's cross-sectional design; therefore, they could not establish a cause-andeffect relationship. 1 The study excluded patients confined to bed. It is unclear why the authors excluded these patients, as such patients could have a high FOF, consequently limiting their activities to bed.…”

“…In their study titled “the correlation between fear of falling and upper extremity muscle strength” published in the Saudi Medical Journal, April 2021, Dr. Yardimci et al 1 studied the relationship between fear of falling (FOF) and upper extremity muscle strength. This single-center, cross-sectional study lacked longitudinal follow-up; hence, it is difficult to make generalized conclusions.…”

“…The authors also acknowledged that the data are observational due to the study’s cross-sectional design; therefore, they could not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. 1 …”

Prevalence of Fear of Falling and Its Association With Physical Function and Fall History Among Senior Citizens Living in Rural Areas of China

“…Fall-related psychological disorders mainly include fear of falling (FOF), loss of self-efficacy, and avoidance of certain activities, which threaten the overall health of senior citizens ( 4 , 5 ). In particular, FOF is considered equally as important as falls in the elderly and demands effective management ( 6 ). Investigations on the FOF shed light on further understanding of falls in the elderly.…”

“…In addition, some scholars have acknowledged the need to assess the physical function (such as balance, gait, muscle strength, etc.) along with the psychological support in older individuals, given that FOF is expected to decrease with improvements in physical performance ( 6 , 14 ). Besides fall history and physical function, factors including gender, age, medication history, comorbidity, etc., may also contribute to FOF in the elderly ( 15 , 16 ).…”