Study on the Association Between Low-Intensity Physical Activity Duration and Falls Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China — An Empirical Analysis Based on the CHARLS Database

Background The Chinese government attaches great importance to fall prevention among middle-aged and older adults and has incorporated it as an important component of healthy ageing strategies and public health policies. For middle-aged and older populations, low-intensity physical activity is not only relatively safe and easy to maintain but also contributes to enhancing physical function and improving balance ability and reaction speed. Methods This raises an important question regarding the relationship between the duration of low-intensity physical activity and falls among middle-aged and older adults in China. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and a binary logistic regression model, this study empirically analyses the factors influencing falls among middle-aged and older adults in China, with a particular focus on whether the duration of low-intensity physical activity can predict falls in this population. Result The findings indicate that: (1) the weekly duration of low-intensity physical activity independently predicts falls among middle-aged and older adults; specifically, compared with those who engaged in low-intensity physical activity for only one day per week, each additional day of activity was associated with a 4.1%–4.4% reduction in fall risk. (2) The daily duration of low-intensity physical activity also independently predicts falls; compared with individuals who exercised for 10–30 minutes per day, those who engaged in 30 minutes to 2 hours of low-intensity physical activity per day exhibited a 14.6%–17.0% lower risk of falling. (3) In addition to age and low-intensity physical activity duration, age, sex, type of toilet facility, alcohol consumption status, and marital status were also reference factors influencing falls among middle-aged and older adults in China. conclusions Based on these findings, it is recommended to reduce the risk of falls among middle-aged and older adults in China by promoting low-intensity physical activity and developing personalised exercise prescriptions; strengthening the prevention and intervention of osteoporosis among middle-aged and older women; and improving the living environment to reduce environmental risk factors for falls. These measures would contribute to advancing the deep integration of nationwide fitness and population health, fully leveraging the role of physical activity in health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation, and facilitating the development of a healthy ageing society.