UPEI study looks into association between fear of falling and physical activity

How might your activity level affect your fear of falling? A study at the University of Prince Edward Island is looking into it for baby boomers.

The study is examining if there's an association between a person's fear of falling and their level of physical activity.

They do tend to restrict their activity, but that actually increases their risk.- ValerieAbd-El-Aziz, graduate student

UPEISchool of Nursing graduate student ValerieAbd-El-Azizis leading the study.She's also researching people's fear of falling and how interested or motivated they are in increasing their physical activity.

"It's very interesting to me to find out about someone's fear of falling because it does give an idea of how active they are. Are they trying to restrict their activity? A lot of people when they're afraid of falling and if they've had an illness or an injury, they do tend to restrict their activity, but that actually increases their risk," saidAbd-El-Aziz.

Survey wraps up in November

One of the main interests in the study is preventing falls. Abd-El-Aziz, who is 53, saidshe's personally interested in the topic too.

"I've had some challenges, minor challenges, but you know as a nurse I've seen older adults who have maybe gone to hospital or in nursing homes," saidAbd-El-Aziz.

"I believe that we need to encourage them more to be physically active and that way they won't be in hospital as long."

The study will survey about 80adults living on P.E.I. ages 50 to 70. It's available online or as a paper survey.Abd-El-Aziz will be collecting data until about the middle of November.

The results could end upguidingnursing care of older adults said Abd-El-Aziz. She plans to create a summary of thestudy and share the results with seniors groups and anyone else interested.

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