Physical activity and falls in men: informing the development of community-based programming

Project Summary

Falls are a significant health issue, affecting 32% of adults >=65 years, and responsible for 85% of injury-related hospital admissions in this group. Furthermore, 6.6% of falls result in fractures, accounting for 95% of hip fractures in older adults, with a mortality rate of 20%. Falls also impact mental health, increasing the fear of falling, which can lead to depression and social isolation. Exercise can reduce fall risk by 51%. Despite men having a higher fall rate, few engage in fall prevention exercise programs. We aim to use the CLSA dataset to explore the relationship between falls and related injuries with various types of physical activity and physical function in older men. These findings, along with findings from qualitative research, will be used to inform the development of a new fall prevention program targeting older men.