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Gait Ability and Muscle Strength in Institutionalized Older Persons with and without Cognitive Decline and Association with Falls

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  • Maria dos Anjos Dixe

    (Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), School of Health Sciences of Polytechnic of Leiria, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2410-541 Leiria, Portugal)

  • Carla Madeira

    (Vila Franca Hospital, 2600-009 Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal)

  • Silvia Alves

    (Vila Franca Hospital, 2600-009 Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal)

  • Maria Adriana Henriques

    (Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), 1600-190 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Cristina Lavareda Baixinho

    (Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), 1600-190 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

Falls are a complex problem, given their multifactorial nature, the comorbidities involved, and due to the dependency of older persons living in nursing homes. Risk, fear of falling, falls themselves, and their recurrence are the main factors behind fragility fractures, lack of independence, and increases in pain prevalence, and other comorbidities in older populations. The objectives of the present quantitative and longitudinal study were: (a) to characterize the cognitive state and fall frequency of older persons living in nursing homes; (b) to analyze the relationship between cognitive status and some fall risk factors; and (c) to associate cognitive decline, gait ability, and muscle strength of the examined institutionalized older persons with fall occurrence and recurrence over 12 months. The participants were 204 older persons who lived in Portuguese nursing homes, and data were collected from January 2019 to February 2020 by consulting medical records and applying the following instruments: the Mini-Mental State Examination, Timed Up and Go Test, and Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing Scale. Fall prevalence, assessed in two periods, 12 months apart, was similar in both samples (with and without cognitive decline) and close to 42%, and the annual recurrence rate was 38.3%. Older persons with no cognitive decline showed an association between gait speed and occurrence of first fall and recurrent fall ( p < 0.05). Muscle strength and use of gait aid devices were not related to falls and their recurrence, regardless of mental state.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria dos Anjos Dixe & Carla Madeira & Silvia Alves & Maria Adriana Henriques & Cristina Lavareda Baixinho, 2021. "Gait Ability and Muscle Strength in Institutionalized Older Persons with and without Cognitive Decline and Association with Falls," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11543-:d:671137
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christina Brogårdh & Jan Lexell & Catharina Sjödahl Hammarlund, 2021. "Fall-Related Activity Avoidance among Persons with Late Effects of Polio and Its Influence on Daily Life: A Mixed-Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Victoire Leroy & Valérie Martinet & Oumashankar Nunkessore & Christel Dentel & Hélène Durand & David Mockler & François Puisieux & Bertrand Fougère & Yaohua Chen, 2023. "The Nebulous Association between Cognitive Impairment and Falls in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, February.

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