Abstract
This study aimed to comprehensively clarify the association of falls in elderly community residents with their physical, cognitive, and mental functions. Analysis of covariance adjusted for the age and sex was performed to compare the physical, cognitive,and mental functions of 345 elderly residents who participated in fitness measurement, focusing on their experience of falls over the past 1 year. On simple comparison between those with and without such experience, marked differences were observed in the age, CS -30 results, toe grip, ability to elevate the trunk, duration of standing on one leg with the eyes open, and TUG score; those with experience of falls were significantly older, and their physical functions had declined more markedly. However, when adjusting for the age and sex, marked differences between the 2 groups were not observed in any measurement item, suggesting the necessity of considering the age and sex when examining risk factors associated with falls. It may also be necessary to draw the elderlyʼs attention to the risk of falls and promote their participation in fall prevention programs, as falls may occur even in active elderly individuals, regardless of their fall-related experience.
