Q&A: Any amount of physical activity could ‘help break the cycle’ of falls in older adults

Key takeaways:

• Any amount of weekly physical activity corresponded with lower fall risk.
• Clinicians should encourage older adults to continue to exercise, even after an injurious fall, a researcher said.

Engaging in any amount of physical activity reduced the risk for falls among older women, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The finding “not only provides evidence for addressing falls through promoting activity, but it could also provide insights for promoting activity after falls, particularly after injurious falls,” Wing S. Kwok, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Sydney in Australia, and colleagues wrote.

In the analysis, the researchers assessed self-reported weekly physical activity in a cohort of 11,759 women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health who were born between 1946 and 1951.

Kwok and colleagues found that any weekly amount of physical activity lowered the risk for injurious falls in the next 3 years compared with no physical activity.

Women who reported noninjurious falls had lower odds of undertaking 300 or more minutes of physical activity a week 3 years later (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.77-0.92) vs. women without falls. In addition, study participants who reported injurious falls also possessed lower odds of participating in various amounts of physical activity.

Kwok spoke with Healio to discuss what the study’s implications are for physicians, what exercise recommendations may work for adults who are unable to maintain a certain level of physical activity and more.

Healio: What stood out to you regarding the observed links between physical activity and fall risk?

Kwok: The study highlights the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and falls. What stood out to me is that women who reported any physical activity participation are less likely to experience falls with injuries, underscoring the importance of staying active. On the other hand, women who had experienced injurious falls were less likely to engage in physical activity in the future, which can create a negative cycle of future falls and injuries.

Healio: What should clinicians take away from these results?

Kwok: Encouraging adults to stay active can reduce their risk for falls and prevent other chronic diseases. It is equally important that health care providers (HCPs) encourage and support individuals to resume physical activity after a fall, especially after an injurious one. This dual approach could help break the cycle and improve overall health outcomes for older adults.

HealioAre there exercises you would recommend for older adults who are afraid of falling or injuring themselves during physical activity?

Kwok: Everyone’s fitness level is different. The key is that older adults can choose activities and exercises that challenge their fitness, balance and strength.

For older adults concerned about falling or who feel unsteady walking and begin to exercise, they can consider exercises such as standing up from their chair 10 to 15 times, marching on the spot and rising onto their toes while making sure they have a bench table or wall close by for support.

They can be active, such as walking once around their living area, house or neighborhood for 5 minutes every hour. A little bit of exercise more often works best. I also recommend that older adults who are afraid of falling seek advice from health professionals, including physiotherapists. Physiotherapists can help decide how to start exercising safely.

HealioWhat is recommended for older adults who are unable to maintain 300 or more minutes of physical activity a week as they age?

Kwok: It’s important to recognize that any level of activity is better than none. We should focus on making physical activity more achievable by encouraging shorter, more frequent sessions, such as 10- to 15-minute bouts of exercise that challenge our fitness, balance and strength throughout the day. Gradually increasing the duration or intensity of activity as fitness improves while being mindful of physical limitations can help build confidence and make physical activity participation more sustainable.

It’s also important to prioritize activities that older adults like and enjoy because this will increase the likelihood of long-term engagement. Activities and exercises that can be done at home or in community settings can help overcome barriers like limited access to facilities.

Healio What should the next steps be for research in this area?

Kwok: The current study focused on women; future studies should investigate whether similar bidirectional associations are present in men.

Because one in four people are physically inactive and one in three people had at least one fall each year, large-scale initiatives are needed to implement physical activity promotion and fall prevention programs, ensuring these interventions are accessible to diverse populations, including people who are frail or have physical limitations.

Reference:

Kwok W, et al. Am J Prev Med. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2025.01.020.