Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon which is particularly acute in Brazil. Regular physical exercise by the aged may improve physical capacity, provide gains in self-esteem and confidence, and contribute to reducing the number of falls, which are common among the elderly. This study aimed at comparing fall risk between sedentary and active elderly subjects, by assessing how the regular practice of physical exercises is reflected by subjects' performance at the Berg balance scale. Seventy elderly subjects were divided into 2 groups, sedentary (n=35) and active (n=35), and submitted to the Berg test. The sedentary group mean score at the Berg scale was 47.7±5.6, and the active groups', 53.6±3.7 (p<0.0001). The odds ratio analysis showed that fall risk was 15.6 times higher for the sedentary group as compared to the active group (p=0.002). Since the performance of the sedentary group at the Berg scale was worse than the active group's, it may be said that regular practice of physical activities affects such performance, and that physically active subjects present less fall risk than sedentary ones.
Accidental falls; Aged; Musculoskeletal equilibrium
