University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, USA.
University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
J Prim Care Community Health. 2021 Jan-Dec;12:2150132721990187. doi: 10.1177/2150132721990187.
Physical performance in older men has been reported in analyses with veterans and in disease-based cohort research. Studies examining gait performance among older monks, however, are narrow. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of a recent fall on gait ability in a cohort of Benedictine and Trappist monks in 4 US monastic communities. The second aim was to analyze physical activity and a recent fall as predictive markers of 2 constructs of gait performance.
In this cross-sectional study, 53 Benedictine and Trappist monks over 60 ( = 74.7 ± 7.6; range: 61-94 years) completed a basic sociodemographic and fall history profile, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE).
Demographic profiles revealed that 10% of participants had fallen over the past 3 months; in addition, those who had fallen were more likely to limit activities because of fear of falling ( = .005). Monks who had fallen over the past 3 months demonstrated significantly poorer TUG (12.6 ± 2.1 vs 10.5 ± 1.8; = .01) and DGI (17.2 ± 5.3 vs 22.3 ± 2.3; < .001) scores. There was a significant association between physical activity and both the TUG (-0.55; < .001) and DGI (64; < .001). Multiple regression models demonstrated that physical activity and a fall in the past 3 months predicted 24% of the variance in the TUG ( < .001) and 46% of the variance in the DGI ( < .001).
Gait performance is linked to a recent fall episode among older monks. Predictive determinants of functional mobility (TUG) and superimposing tasks on the gait cycle (DGI) include recent fall history and physical activity. Appropriate health promotion activities can be aligned with these lifestyle attributes in monastic communities.
老年人的身体机能在退伍军人的分析和基于疾病的队列研究中已有报道。然而，关于老年僧侣步态表现的研究范围较窄。本研究旨在分析在美国 4 个修道社区的一群本笃会和特拉普派僧侣中，近期跌倒对步态能力的影响。本研究的第二个目的是分析身体活动和近期跌倒作为步态表现 2 个构念的预测指标。
在这项横断面研究中，53 名 60 岁以上（=74.7±7.6；范围：61-94 岁）的本笃会和特拉普派僧侣完成了基本的社会人口学和跌倒史概况、计时起坐测试（TUG）、动态步态指数（DGI）和老年人体力活动量表（PASE）。
人口统计学概况显示，10%的参与者在过去 3 个月内跌倒过；此外，那些跌倒过的人更有可能因为害怕跌倒而限制活动（=0.005）。在过去 3 个月内跌倒过的僧侣 TUG（12.6±2.1 与 10.5±1.8；=0.01）和 DGI（17.2±5.3 与 22.3±2.3；<0.001）得分明显较差。身体活动与 TUG（-0.55；<0.001）和 DGI（64；<0.001）均呈显著相关性。多元回归模型表明，身体活动和过去 3 个月内的跌倒事件可预测 TUG（<0.001）的 24%和 DGI（<0.001）的 46%的变异性。
步态表现与老年僧侣近期跌倒事件有关。功能性移动（TUG）和步态周期上叠加任务（DGI）的预测决定因素包括近期跌倒史和身体活动。适当的健康促进活动可以与修道社区中的这些生活方式属性相匹配。
