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Multi-chronic musculoskeletal pain is a useful clinical index to predict the risk of falls in older adults with normal motor function

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Abstract

Background

The number of chronic musculoskeletal pain sites (nCMSP) is reportedly associated with risk of falls. Older participants in community-based research show a wide range of physical functions, but few studies have focused on the risk of falls in older adults with normal motor function (NMF). Clarification of the effects of pain on dual-tasking performance is also important, given the strong link between falls and dual-tasking.

Aims

The objectives were to investigate the associations between: (1) nCMSP and falls; and (2) nCMSP and dual-task performance in older adults with NMF.

Methods

A total of 112 older adults with NMF (44 men, 68 women; 73.4 ± 4.6 years) were classified as fallers (n = 22) or non-fallers (n = 90) according to their fall history. Musculoskeletal pain in the lower body was assessed using questions ascertaining pain in musculoskeletal sites (back, hip, knee, foot, or toe). Participants were assigned to three pain groups according to nCMSP. Basic physical performances and gait performances (normal gait, fast gait, or dual-task gait) were measured.

Results

The nCMSP represented a significant risk factor for falls according to logistic regression modeling after adjusting for the five chair stand test and fear of falls. The nCMSP was not associated with any gait variables.

Discussion

Potential fall risk may be increased by nCMSP, even in older adults with NMF. Pain-related reduction in attention resources may not represent a risk factor for falls among older adults with NMF.

Conclusions

The nCMSP represents a potential risk factor for falls in older adults with NMF.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (22700685) from KAKENHI in Japan. We wish to thank all individuals who volunteered for the study. The following contributors to data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation are gratefully acknowledged: T. Ogaya and Y. Fukumoto.

Conflict of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Human and Animal Rights

This study was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendents. The Research Ethics Committee of Kobe Gakuin University approved the study (Approval No. HEB100806-1).

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to participation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, 518 Ikawadanicho, Arise, Nishi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-2180, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Asai

  2. Kobe City Hospital Organization, Kobe City Medical Center West Hospital, 1-2-4 Nagata-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 653-0013, Japan

    Shogo Misu

  3. Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2 Tomogaoka, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 654-0142, Japan

    Ryuichi Sawa

  4. Section for Health Promotion, Department of Health and Medical Care Center for Development of Advanced Medicine for Dementia, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi, 474-8511, Japan

    Takehiko Doi

  5. Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 3-29-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-0012, Japan

    Minoru Yamada

Authors
  1. Tsuyoshi Asai
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  2. Shogo Misu
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  3. Ryuichi Sawa
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  4. Takehiko Doi
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  5. Minoru Yamada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tsuyoshi Asai.

Additional information

This work was carried out at Toyotomi Elementary School, 925 Mikage, Toyotomi-cho, Himeji, Hyogo 679-2122, Japan.

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Asai, T., Misu, S., Sawa, R. et al. Multi-chronic musculoskeletal pain is a useful clinical index to predict the risk of falls in older adults with normal motor function. Aging Clin Exp Res 27, 711–716 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0340-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0340-5

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