Almost all people of 70 years of age or above suffer chronic pain, and many die after fall in the older age. Together, these two problems become dangerous and sometimes even deadly for older people, suggest a novel Boston research.
Achy joints can lead to debilitating falls
The research shows that chronic bone and join pains contribute to falling accidents among the elderly. That means seniors, 70 years and older, who suffer with chronic bone and joint pain are more likely to sustain a fall than those with little or no pain.
In their research published in the Nov. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, University of Massachusetts researchers found that participants who reported pain in more than one joint were at a significantly increased risk of falling than their counterparts who had no pain.
"Chronic pain whether it was measured in terms of number of locations, severity of pain or how disabling the pain was, chronic pain was associated with an increased likelihood of falling in older adults," said lead researcher Suzanne G. Leveille, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Study details
Leveille and colleagues reached their findings after studying 749 men and women age 70 and older who were part of the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect and Zest in the Elderly study in Boston. All the study participants were asked to record their falls and their pain levels.
After 18 months of follow up, the researchers found that participants sustained 1,029 falls, with an increased risk of falling accidents among those who reported musculoskeletal pain in two or more places.
The research team found that people who said they felt pain in two or more joints in one month were 50 percent more likely to fall in the following month than those who did not report joint pain. The team found no association between backache and falls.
"It may not be just simple aches or pains. It could actually be something that places a person at increased risk for falls, [which] could lead to hospitalization and further disability," Leveille said. "We'd like to know if we control chronic pain, will people have fewer falls? Certainly if a person has chronic pain, it should be a discussion with their health-care provider to make sure the pain is managed adequately."
Findings raise hope of better life for older people
Leveille says their study is the first to examine the link between chronic joint pains and falling accidents. She hopes the findings would likely prompt older people to discuss chronic pain issues with their family and doctors.
"Paying closer attention to the problems such as pain and falls could result in better health and help people to continue to live actively and independently in the community," said Leveille.
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