TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Walker use, but not falls, is associated with lower physical functioning and health of residents in an assisted-living environment
JO  - Clinical interventions in aging
A1  - Andersen, Daniel A.
A1  - Roos, Bernard A.
A1  - Stanziano, Damian C.
A1  - Gonzalez, Natasha M.
A1  - Signorile, Joseph F.
SP  - 123
EP  - 137
VL  - 2
IS  - 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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1176-9092
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -