Discussion
The walking programme did not reduce falls in a representative
sample of inactive, older community-dwelling people.
These results are consistent with two previous smaller trials
that have investigated the effect of walking on falls [12, 13],
and support findings from a meta-analysis that indicated
walking does not add to the effectiveness of a fall prevention
programme [14]. The intervention did, however, increase
general physical activity as well as walking levels and mobility
scores.
There was some indication that age was an effect modifier.
There was a non-significant trend (P = 0.19) indicating
the effect of walking in participants aged 65–74 years was opposite
to that observed in those aged 75 years and over.
People aged 75 years and over are more likely to be frailer
and at higher fall risk. It may be that walking is of insufficient
intensity to ameliorate this higher risk in the older age group
and/or walking more often or for longer periods may have
led to a greater exposure to fall hazards and subsequently
more falls in this group