What Is the Relation Between Fear of Failing and Physical Activity in Older Adults?

Objective: To describe the association between fear of falling (FOF) and total daily activity in older adults. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: Ambulatory clinical research training center. Participants: Community-dwelling older adults aged >= 64 years (N=78), who were independent in ambulation with or without an assistive device. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: FOP was defined by self-reported fear ratings using the Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly and self-reported fear status determined by response to the following question: Are you afraid of falling? Physical function was assessed using the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument. Physical activity was recorded using an accelerometer worn on the waist for 7 consecutive days, and mean daily counts of activity per minute were averaged over the 7-day period. Results: Fear ratings were related to total daily activity (r=-.26, P=.02). The relation was not as strong as the relation of function and physical activity (r=.45, P<.001). When stratified by exercise status or functional status, fear was no longer related to total daily activity. Physical function explained 19% of the variance in physical activity, whereas the addition of fear status did not add to the explained variance in physical activity. Conclusions: FOF is related to total daily physical activity; however, FOF was not independently associated with physical activity when accounting for physical function. Some FOP may be reported as a limitation in function. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2013;94:2529-34 (C) 2013 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine