Abstract
The relationship between perceived health and walker use has seldom been addressed. Concerns over falls and falls risk are precursors to walker use. We compared the SF-36 scores of 26 women and 14 men, mean age 86.8 +/- 6.0 years based on walker use and faller status. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with age as the covariate, compared groups for the SF-36 constructs and totals score. Significant differences were noted between walker users and nonusers in physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, general health, and the total SF-36 score. Pairwise comparisons favored nonusers, while no differences were seen due to faller status. Walker use is associated with lower self-perceptions of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, and general health in assisted-living residents. Faller status is not associated with self-perceived health status. Although walker use aids mobility and lowers the probability of falls, further research is needed to determine if the prescription of assistive devices has a more negative impact on self-perceived health than does falling. This possibility could be explained, in part, by the greater activity levels of those individuals who do not depend on walkers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 123-137 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Clinical Interventions in Aging |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2007 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
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Walker use, but not falls, is associated with lower physical functioning and health of residents in an assisted-living environment. / Andersen, Daniel A.; Roos, Bernard A.; Stanziano, Damian C.; Gonzalez, Natasha M.; Signorile, Joseph.
In: Clinical Interventions in Aging, Vol. 2, No. 1, 01.12.2007, p. 123-137.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Walker use, but not falls, is associated with lower physical functioning and health of residents in an assisted-living environment.
AU - Andersen, Daniel A.
AU - Roos, Bernard A.
AU - Stanziano, Damian C.
AU - Gonzalez, Natasha M.
AU - Signorile, Joseph
PY - 2007/12/1
Y1 - 2007/12/1
N2 - The relationship between perceived health and walker use has seldom been addressed. Concerns over falls and falls risk are precursors to walker use. We compared the SF-36 scores of 26 women and 14 men, mean age 86.8 +/- 6.0 years based on walker use and faller status. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with age as the covariate, compared groups for the SF-36 constructs and totals score. Significant differences were noted between walker users and nonusers in physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, general health, and the total SF-36 score. Pairwise comparisons favored nonusers, while no differences were seen due to faller status. Walker use is associated with lower self-perceptions of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, and general health in assisted-living residents. Faller status is not associated with self-perceived health status. Although walker use aids mobility and lowers the probability of falls, further research is needed to determine if the prescription of assistive devices has a more negative impact on self-perceived health than does falling. This possibility could be explained, in part, by the greater activity levels of those individuals who do not depend on walkers.
AB - The relationship between perceived health and walker use has seldom been addressed. Concerns over falls and falls risk are precursors to walker use. We compared the SF-36 scores of 26 women and 14 men, mean age 86.8 +/- 6.0 years based on walker use and faller status. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with age as the covariate, compared groups for the SF-36 constructs and totals score. Significant differences were noted between walker users and nonusers in physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, general health, and the total SF-36 score. Pairwise comparisons favored nonusers, while no differences were seen due to faller status. Walker use is associated with lower self-perceptions of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, and general health in assisted-living residents. Faller status is not associated with self-perceived health status. Although walker use aids mobility and lowers the probability of falls, further research is needed to determine if the prescription of assistive devices has a more negative impact on self-perceived health than does falling. This possibility could be explained, in part, by the greater activity levels of those individuals who do not depend on walkers.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=38449105947&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2147/ciia.2007.2.1.123
DO - 10.2147/ciia.2007.2.1.123
M3 - Article
C2 - 18044085
AN - SCOPUS:38449105947
VL - 2
SP - 123
EP - 137
JO - Clinical Interventions in Aging
JF - Clinical Interventions in Aging
SN - 1176-9092
IS - 1
ER -