Fear of falling and self-perception of health in older participants and non-participants of physical activity programs

• Published in: Motriz : Revista de Educação Física. Unesp 2013-12, Vol.19 (4), p.763-769
• Main Authors: Silva, Carolina Kruleske da, Trelha, Celita Salmaso, Silva Junior, Rubens Alexandre da
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: actividad física; la salud y el envejecimiento; miedo de caer; SPORT SCIENCES
• ISSN: 1980-6574; 1980-6574
• DOI: 10.1590/S1980-65742013000400014

Fear of falling, self-perception of health, and participation in physical activity programs have been associated with several variables related to health and performance in older adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-perception of health and fear of falling in older adult participants and non-participants of physical activity programs, and to verify the relationship between these variables. A total of 40 healthy but sedentary older adults, and 45 physically active older adults were assessed through the Falls Efficacy Scale International-Brazil (FES-I) and a questionnaire that measured their self-perception of health. The older adults that did not participate in regular physical activity programs presented higher scores of fear of falling, which, in turn, is associated with an increase of risk for falls. Moreover, older adults, participants in regular physical activity programs exhibited a more positive health perception than did the non-participants. Also, non-participants of physical activity programs perceived their health status as being poor or very poor as well as expressing great concern about falling compared to those who considered their health as excellent, good or regular. The results of this study have important implications for making clinical decisions in prevention or rehabilitation of older people, and they justify recommendations to the public health system. El miedo de caer, la percepción de salud y la participación en programas de actividad física se han asociado con diversas variables relacionadas con la salud y el rendimiento de las personas de edad avanzada. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción de la salud y el miedo de caer en los participantes mayores y los no participantes en programas de actividad física, y la asociación entre estas variables. Se evaluaron 40 adultos mayores sanos, pero sedentarios y 45 fisicamente activos, a través de la Falls Efficacy Scale International-Brasil (FES-I) y de lo cuestionario de percepción subjetiva de la salud. Tercera edad que no participan en los programas regulares de actividad física mostraron una mayor preocupación por la caída, lo que indica un mayor miedo a caer, y que se asocia con un mayor riesgo de caídas. Por otra parte, las personas mayores participantes en el programa de actividad física regular tienen una mejor percepción de salud que los no participantes. Además, los no participantes en el programa de actividad física regular percibían su salud como