Rethinking the role of ambulatory activity in falls risk in aged residential care: influence of physical capacity and cognitive impairment

Residents with higher physical capacity can take more falls-free steps. While their falls risk increases slightly as activity levels increase, this is not at the expense of injuries. Low-capacity residents face higher baseline fall risk and incidence of injurious falls but are less influenced by activity levels. Despite perceptions that cognitive impairment increases fall risk, no associations were found. These results challenge the practice of restricting ambulatory activity in aged care to prevent falls, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.