Suzanne G. Leveille, PhD, RN, of the University of Massachusetts in Boston, author of the study stated, "Chronic pain, whether it was measured in terms of the number of locations, the severity of the pain, or how disabling the pain was, was associated with an increased likelihood of falling in older adults.”
In an effort to understand whether chronic musculoskeletal pain is linked with greater prevalence of falls , the researchers enrolled 749 adults aged 70 years and older in a study from September 2005 through January 2008.
Details of the 18-month study
At the start of the study, 40 percent of the participants said they suffered from chronic pain in more than one joint, and 24 percent had pain in only one joint.
Participants were asked to record their falls on a monthly calendar which was subsequently mailed to the center of the study. The level of pain was evaluated through a questionnaire.
During the 18 months study, 1029 falls were sustained while 405 subjects reported falling at least once. Researchers noted that people suffering from disabling pain in more than one joint were at 50 percent higher risk of falling as opposed to those with no pain or minimal pain.
Additionally, the investigators found that people experiencing acute pain in one month had a 77 percent increased risk of falling the next month. Even those suffering from very mild pain were at risk of falling in the coming month.
“We found that people that had multi-site pain were particularly at risk. They had a 50 percent increased likelihood of falling over a period of 18 months compared to their peers who had no pain,” Leveille said.
Reasons behind the pain fall relationship
According to the authors, one of the reasons why falls are associated with pain, could be weakening of the leg muscles due to the neuromuscular effects of pain, leading to slower responses and loss of balance.
"Another factor may be gait alterations or adaptations to chronic pain that lead to instability and subsequent balance impairments. Chronic pain may serve as a distractor or, in some way, interfere with cognitive activity needed to prevent a fall. Successful avoidance or interruptions of a fall typically requires a cognitively mediated physical maneuver, “ said Leveille.
Expert advice
Elders should not dismiss pains as an integral part of growing old rather should pay attention to the problems of discomfort and discuss these with health care takers for better pain management, recommend experts.
"The findings provide evidence suggesting that the common complaint of the aches and pains of old age is related to a greater hazard than previously thought," they say.
"Daily discomfort may accompany not only difficulties in performing daily activities but equally as important may be a risk for falls and possibly fall-related injuries in the older population.”
The study is published in the issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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