Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the risk of falls in non-diabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic community-dwelling older people, together with the characteristics of physical functioning in these groups.

Methods: This study enrolled 541 community-dwelling older adults who participated in our cohort study and whose HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) levels, body composition, cognitive function, and physical function had been assessed. Previous fall histories were recorded at baseline and subsequently at a 3-year follow-up. Participants were divided into non-diabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic groups, based on both baseline HbA1c levels and selfreport. Falls experienced during the study period were evaluated using the adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis. In addition, the physical functioning of the study participants with and without diabetes were compared, both with those who experienced falls during the study period, and with those who had not.

Results: The incidence rate of falls was 18.8 %, 17.1 %, and 31.6 % in the non-diabetes, prediabetes, and diabetes groups, respectively. The Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that falls were associated with diagnosed diabetes (hazard ratio: 2.99, 95 % confidence interval: 1.52-5.88) but not with prediabetes. The one-leg standing time in fallers was worse in the diabetic group and decreased fastest among these individuals per year.

Conclusions: Implementing countermeasures for decreasing balance function are important to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people with diabetes.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between physical pre-frailty and each factor among the older adults who participate in “Kayoino-Ba”.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the data of 188 older adults who participated in “Kayoino-Ba” at 13 locations, excluding those with physical frailty. Logistic regression analysis was conducted, with physical pre-frailty as the objective variable and the basic attributes of the physical, psychological, and social aspects as the explanatory variables.

Results: Of the total subjects, physical pre-frailty 54.3%, non-pre-frailty 45.7%, both groups showed more than 60% of new exercise after participating in the “Kayoino-Ba”. Factors that were significantly associated with physical pre-frailty were fall anxiety, cognitive items on the Kihon Checklist, and 30-second chair-stand test.

Conclusions: It is important to focus on the assessment of fear of falling and cognitive function in addition to standing up and sitting down movements in the physically pre-frailty older adults who participate in the “Kayoino-Ba”.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the correlation of sarcopenia with orthopedic disorders, history of falls, and polypharmacy among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Data from 905 older adults who participated in community-based health check-up were analyzed. Participants were asked to provide their history of orthopedic disorders, number of prescription medicines, and experience of fall during the past year. Sarcopenia was assessed based on the AWGS2019 criteria.

Results: The prevalence rate of sarcopenia was 18.3 % (n = 166). Although participants with osteoporosis showed a higher prevalence rate, there were no associations of sarcopenia with osteoarthritis and spinal disease. In the logistic regression analyses, there was no significant association between orthopedic disorders and sarcopenia, whereas history of falls (odds ratio = 1.65) and polypharmacy (≥6) (odds ratio = 1.56) were significantly associated with sarcopenia.

Conclusions: A higher prevalence rate of sarcopenia was observed in older adults with osteoporosis. However, there was no significant association found between sarcopenia and orthopedic disorders, including osteoporosis in the multivariate analysis, whereas history of falls and polypharmacy were determined as associated factors with sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: This study investigates the subjective health and consciousness of participants in care prevention voluntary group activities that resumed after the state of emergency due to COVID-19 was lifted.

Methods: The participants were 73 people (78.0 (6.3) years old) in 11 groups. Participants in the restarted group conducted a questionnaire survey on subjective health and consciousness of group activities while group activities were suspended and after resuming activities. A chi-squared test was performed for the relationship between subjective health and timing.

Results: There was no significant difference in the subjective health of the participants. Many participants engaged in mild physical activities like walking or gymnastics while group activities were suspended. Some participants felt happy about the group activities restarting as they could meet their friends again. Most of the anxieties were related to “infection risk” and “decrease in physical and muscle strength.”

Conclusions: After resuming group activities, the participants felt anxiety about their health in terms of infection risk and deterioration of physical and muscle strength, but also felt the positive effects of social participation and improvement of physical function. It was inferred that they were positive about the recommencement of group activities.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the successful experience of home-visit rehabilitation, which mainly focuses on an educational approach to cases with low back pain.

Methods: The subject was a woman in her 70s 70 days after spinal fusion. Subjects were provided with 40-minute home-visit rehabilitation twice a week for 3 months. The contents included an educational approach, exercise therapy and aerobic exercise, and work practice. With the Japanese version of Roland-Morris Disability Questionnare (RDQ) as the main outcome, pain, catastrophic thinking, mental state, and physical function were measured at the start and end of home-visit rehabilitation and 6 months after the end of home-visit rehabilitation.

Results: As a result of conducting multifaceted intervention mainly on an educational approach for 3 months, in the Japanese version of RDQ that reflects not only pain and physical function but also the degree of dysfunction in daily life in catastrophic thinking, mental state, and low back pain. Also showed a significant improvement, and the effect was maintained 6 months after the end of the home-visit rehabilitation.

Conclusions: It was suggested that multifaceted interventions in home-visit rehabilitation may have a positive effect on dysfunction of daily life due to low back pain, catastrophic thinking, and mental state.