Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, 38% of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization.

Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32).

We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Obesity, Physical Performance, Balance Confidence, and Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
  Ga Yang Shim, Myung Chul Yoo, Yunsoo Soh, Jinmann Chon, Chang Won Won
  Nutrients.2024; 16(5): 614.     CrossRef
• Nutrition Risk is Associated With Falls Risk in an Observational Study of Community-Dwelling, Rural, Older Adults
  Caitlin D. Eckert, Emily K. Tarleton, Jocelyn Pellerin, Nicole Mooney, Nancy M. Gell
  Journal of Aging and Health.2022; 34(6-8): 1125.     CrossRef
• Clinical Practice Guideline for Frailty Applicable in Primary Care Setting
  Hyo-Sun You, Yu-Jin Kwon, Sunyoung Kim, Yang-Hyun Kim, Ye-seul Kim, Yonghwan Kim, Yong-kyun Roh, Byoungjin Park, Young Kyu Park, Chang-Hae Park, Joung Sik Son, Jinyoung Shin, Hyun-Young Shin, Bumjo Oh, Jae-woo Lee, Jae-Yong Shim, Chang Won Won, Ji Won Yoo
  Korean Journal of Family Practice.2021; 11(4): 223.     CrossRef
• Prevalence, Circumstances, and Risk Factors of Falls Among Community Dwelling Members of University of the Third Age
  Asmidawati Ashari, Tengku Aizan Hamid, Mohd Rizal Hussain, Rahimah Ibrahim, Keith D. Hill
  Frontiers in Public Health.2021;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The moderating role of social factors in the relationship between an incident of fall and depressive symptoms: a study with a national sample of older adults in South Korea
  Min-Kyoung Rhee, Yuri Jang, Soo Young Kim, Sujie Chang
  Aging & Mental Health.2021; 25(6): 1086.     CrossRef
• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Frailty in Community-Dwelling Korean Elderly Adults in Primary Care Settings
  Hyo-Sun You, Yu-Jin Kwon, Sunyoung Kim, Yang-Hyun Kim, Ye-seul Kim, Yonghwan Kim, Yong-kyun Roh, Byoungjin Park, Young Kyu Park, Chang-Hae Park, Joung Sik Son, Jinyoung Shin, Hyun-Young Shin, Bumjo Oh, Jae-woo Lee, Jae Yong Shim, Chang Won Won, Ji Won Yoo
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(6): 413.     CrossRef
• Effect of Action Observation Training Using Y-Balance on Balance Capability in Young Adults
  Sung Min Son, Kyung Woo Kang
  The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy.2020; 32(2): 65.     CrossRef
• Epidemiology of fall and its socioeconomic risk factors in community-dwelling Korean elderly
  Taekyoung Kim, Sang D. Choi, Shuping Xiong, Kyoung-Sae Na
  PLOS ONE.2020; 15(6): e0234787.     CrossRef
• Correlation of the Korean Version of Falls Efficacy Scale-International With Quantitative Balance and Gait Parameters Through Exercise Program in Elderly Men
  Bo Ram Ahn, Hyo Jung Kang, Eun Jung Choi, Soo Woong Jang, Hee Sup Chung, Kyung Soo Jeon
  Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine.2019; 43(2): 195.     CrossRef
• Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: III. Others
  Lotta J. Seppala, Esther M.M. van de Glind, Joost G. Daams, Kimberley J. Ploegmakers, Max de Vries, Anne M.A.T. Wermelink, Nathalie van der Velde, Hubert Blain, Jean Bousquet, Gösta Bucht, Maria Angeles Caballero-Mora, Tischa van der Cammen, Patrik Eklund
  Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.2018; 19(4): 372.e1.     CrossRef
• Analysis of Fall Accidents of Dizzy Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in South Korea (2011-2015)
  Sung Kyun Kim, Sung Ho Lee, Seon Heui Lee, Jae Jun Song, Mi Jung Gwak, Hee Seon Lee, Gi Jung Im
  Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.2017; 60(6): 271.     CrossRef
• Comparison of falls-related physical fitness and fall experience characteristics of the elderly between Ulsan, Korea and Gifu, Japan
  
  Korean Journal of Sport Science.2017;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Determining Risk of Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using Posttest Probability
  Michelle M. Lusardi, Stacy Fritz, Addie Middleton, Leslie Allison, Mariana Wingood, Emma Phillips, Michelle Criss, Sangita Verma, Jackie Osborne, Kevin K. Chui
  Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy.2017; 40(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Evidence-Based Guideline for Fall Prevention in Korea
  Kwang-Il Kim, Hye-Kyung Jung, Chang Oh Kim, Soo-Kyung Kim, Hyun-Ho Cho, Dae Yul Kim, Yong-Chan Ha, Sung-Hee Hwang, Chang Won Won, Jae-Young Lim, Hyun Jung Kim, Jae Gyu Kim
  Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society.2016; 20(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Application of Rasch Analysis to the Korean Version of the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale
  Gyoung-mo Kim
  Physical Therapy Korea.2016; 23(1): 46.     CrossRef
• Usefulness of a 50-meter round walking test for fall prediction in the elderly requiring long-term care
  Mizuki Hachiya, Shin Murata, Hiroshi Otao, Takehiko Ihara, Katsuhiko Mizota, Toyoko Asami
  Journal of Physical Therapy Science.2015; 27(12): 3663.     CrossRef
• Validation of the Short Form Bobath Memorial Hospital Fall Risk Assessment Scale at a Specialized Geriatric Hospital in Korea
  Kyeong-Yae Sohng, Mi Hwa Park, Seung Kyo Chaung, Hye Ja Park
  Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing.2014; 28(3): 495.     CrossRef
• Risk Factors for Falls in Older Korean Adults: The 2011 Community Health Survey
  Eun jin Choi, Sun A Kim, Nu Ri Kim, Jung-Ae Rhee, Yong-Woon Yun, Min-Ho Shin
  Journal of Korean Medical Science.2014; 29(11): 1482.     CrossRef
• Relationship between Self-Perceived Postural Limits and Falls among Hospitalized Stroke Patients
  Katsuhiko Takatori, Koji Shomoto, Tomoaki Shimada
  Journal of Physical Therapy Science.2009; 21(1): 29.     CrossRef

A meta-analysis of 14 quasi-experimental studies was conducted to compare the effect of size on various relaxation therapies applied to patients and health volunteer students. These studies were selected from theses, dissertations and papers that have been done between 1982 to 1993. Also They have a randomized or nonequivalent control group in a pre test-post test design. The studies were evaluated in different ways; 1) types of relaxation therapy, 2) total amount of time of relaxation therapy, and 3) types of outcome variables. For a group of homogenious studies, the weighted mean effect size and standard error were estimated. Some findings are summarized as follows : 1. Jacobson relaxation therapy had a larger effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressures than on state anxiety. 2. For the total time of relaxation therapy, (longer than 60 minutes) had a much larger effect in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressures than in the case of a time period shorter than 60 minutes. 3. Relaxation therapy applied to surgery patients also had a larger effect in decreasing state anxiety than when applied to other patients.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Effects of Abdominal Breathing on Anxiety, Blood Pressure, Peripheral Skin Temperature and Saturation Oxygen of Pregnant Women in Preterm Labor
  Soon-Bok Chang, Hee-Sook Kim, Yun-Hee Ko, Choon-Hee Bae, Sung-Eun An
  Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing.2009; 15(1): 32.     CrossRef