|
|
||||||||
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 54, Issue 6 M288-M292, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America
JOURNAL ARTICLE |
JW Davis, MC Nevitt, RD Wasnich and PD Ross
Hawaii Osteoporosis Center, Honolulu 96814, USA. [email protected]
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that the incidence of falls among Japanese women is about half that of white women. The difference in incidence might result from differences in neuromuscular performance, such as muscle strength, mobility, and balance. This hypothesis was tested by comparing two community-dwelling populations: Japanese women in the Hawaii Osteoporosis Study, and Caucasian women in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. METHODS: Neuromuscular performance was assessed for women in the two cohorts using standardized procedures. Falls were monitored longitudinally, using surveys mailed at 4-month intervals. RESULTS: The Japanese and white women differed substantially in their neuromuscular performance. The Japanese women had faster walking speeds and chair stands, and performed better on a series of balance tests. The white women had greater strength, particularly at the quadriceps, and faster hand and foot reaction times. The white women also reported fewer functional disabilities, including fewer difficulties in climbing steps, doing heavy housework, and shopping for groceries. In age-adjusted analyses, the risk of falls was greater for the white women [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6, 2.0]. After adjusting for the neuromuscular test results and the number of functional disabilities, the odds ratio for the risk of falls remained essentially the same (OR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.5, 2.1). CONCLUSIONS: The Japanese and white women had different advantages and limitations in neuromuscular performance. These differences, however, did not explain the lower risk of falls among Japanese women.
This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)
|
J. E. Morley Editorial: A Fall Is a Major Event in the Life of an Older Person J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2002; 57(8): M492 - 495. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
---|
All GSA journals | The Gerontologist |
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |