Gardening as a potential activity to reduce falls in older adults.

TitleGardening as a potential activity to reduce falls in older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsChen, T-Y, Janke, MC
JournalJ Aging Phys Act
Volume20
Issue1
Pagination15-31
Date Published2012 Jan
ISSN Number1543-267X
KeywordsAccidental Falls, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Chi-Square Distribution, Confidence Intervals, Exercise Test, Female, Gait, Gardening, Humans, Leisure activities, Male, Motor Activity, Odds Ratio, Postural Balance, Risk Assessment, Self Report, Task Performance and Analysis
Abstract

This study examines whether participation in gardening predicts reduced fall risk and performance on balance and gait-speed measures in older adults. Data on adults age 65 and older (N = 3,237) from the Health and Retirement Study and Consumption and Activities Mail Survey were analyzed. Participants who spent 1 hr or more gardening in the past week were defined as gardeners, resulting in a total of 1,585 gardeners and 1,652 nongardeners. Independent t tests, chi square, and regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between gardening and health outcomes. Findings indicate that gardeners reported significantly better balance and gait speed and had fewer chronic conditions and functional limitations than nongardeners. Significantly fewer gardeners than nongardeners reported a fall in the past 2 yr. The findings suggest that gardening may be a potential activity to incorporate into future fall-prevention programs.

DOI10.1123/japa.20.1.15
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22190117?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

gardening/gardeners/Balance/Balance/gait-speed/gait-speed/Motor Activity - physiology/Accidental Falls/fall prevention/chronic conditions

Endnote ID

69746

Alternate JournalJ Aging Phys Act
Citation Key7778
PubMed ID22190117