TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - Balance of older trekkers: data on alpine accidents and performance as assessed using a video game machine
JO  - American journal of emergency medicine
A1  - Kimura, Masafumi
A1  - Tobe, Masaru
A1  - Suto, Takashi
A1  - Narahara, Soh
A1  - Yamada, Makiko
A1  - Aso, Chizu
A1  - Takazawa, Tomonori
A1  - Baba, Yasuo
A1  - Saito, Shigeru
SP  - 1125
EP  - 1128
VL  - 30
IS  - 7
N2  - The number of alpine accidents involving older trekkers has increased markedly in developed countries in recent years. More than 76.8% of the trekkers involved in alpine accidents in Japan were older than 40 years, with some experiencing a stroke or myocardial infarction while trekking at altitude. In the present study, we surveyed social trends in trekkers by interview at a popular mountain site, Mt Tanigawa (1963 m in altitude). The total number of trekkers interviewed was 511, and more than 60% of these were older than 40 years. Of trekkers older than 60 years, 42% complained of conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. In 2 volunteer groups (10 younger subjects and 10 older subjects), physical condition was assessed before and after trekking. Significant body weight loss induced by dehydration was observed more often in older subjects than in younger subjects (P < .05). Balance, as measured using the Nintendo WiiFit (Nintendo, Kyoto, Japan), worsened in the older group (P < .05). Local police records for 2009 showed that the total number of alpine accidents was 65. Injuries provoked by stumbling, slipping, and falling accounted for 51% of these, and 82% of casualties were older than 40 years, with 35% being older than 60 years. In conclusion, many older people involved in nonchallenging middle-altitude trekking have problems with regard to overall health and balance. Alpine accidents caused by myocardial infarction, stroke, or hypoglycemia tend to be more common in this population. Alpine rescue teams should be well prepared for this, and older trekkers should be made aware of their increased risk of injury in alpine settings.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0735-6757
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.07.022
ID  - ref1
ER  -