Effect of pain on fear of falling in patients with femoral proximal fracture

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated the factors affecting fear of falling in patients with femoral proximal fracture. [Subjects and Methods] The participants were 26 patients with femoral proximal fracture (3 males and 23 females, average age: 80.2 ± 7.9 years). Fall self-efficacy, motor functions, and pain intensity were measured 4 weeks post-surgery, and the participants were divided into three groups based on their scores on the Falls Efficacy Scale. [Results] The group with low fall self-efficacy was significantly older and experienced stronger pain than the group with high fall self-efficacy did. In a multivariate analysis, age and pain intensity were extracted as factors influencing fall self-efficacy. [Conclusion] For patients with femoral proximal fracture, in addition to age, pain was identified as a correlated factor to fear of falling.