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.
AD - Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Australia. csherrington@georgeinstitute.org.au AN - 21632004 BT - NSW Public Health Bull ET - 2011/06/03 LA - eng M1 - 3-4 N1 - Sherrington, CatherineTiedemann, AnneFairhall, NicolaClose, Jacqueline C TLord, Stephen RMeta-AnalysisResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewAustraliaNew South Wales public health bulletinN S W Public Health Bull. 2011 Jun;22(3-4):78-83. N2 -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.
PY - 2011 SN - 1034-7674 (Print)1034-7674 (Linking) SP - 78 EP - 83 T2 - NSW Public Health Bull TI - Exercise to prevent falls in older adults: an updated meta-analysis and best practice recommendations VL - 22 ER -