01475nas a2200181 4500000000100000008004100001100002600042700001300068700001900081700002000100700001200120245010600132250001500238300001000253490000700263520098200270020004101252 2011 d1 aSherrington Catherine1 aClose J.1 aTiedemann Anne1 aFairhall Nicola1 aLord S.00aExercise to prevent falls in older adults: an updated meta-analysis and best practice recommendations a2011/06/03 a78-830 v223 a

This systematic review update includes 54 randomised controlled trials and confirms that exercise as a single intervention can prevent falls (pooled rate ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-0.91). Meta-regression revealed programs that included balance training, contained a higher dose of exercise and did not include walking training to have the greatest effect on reducing falls. We therefore recommend that exercise for falls prevention should provide a moderate or high challenge to balance and be undertaken for at least 2 hours per week on an ongoing basis. Additionally, we recommend that: falls prevention exercise should target both the general community and those at high risk for falls; exercise may be undertaken in a group or home-based setting; strength and walking training may be included in addition to balance training but high risk individuals should not be prescribed brisk walking programs; and other health-related risk factors should also be addressed.

 a1034-7674 (Print)1034-7674 (Linking)