Comparison of exercise versus control
| Rate of falls | Number of fallers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of studies | Number of participants | Effect size* rate ratio (95% CI) | Number of studies | Number of participants | Effect size* risk ratio (95% CI) | |
| Exercise versus control | ||||||
| Group exercise: multiple-component exercise versus control | 16 | 3622 | 0.71 (0.63 to 0.82) | 22 | 5333 | 0.85 (0.76 to 0.96) |
| Individual exercise at home: multiple-component exercise versus control | 7 | 951 | 0.68 (0.58 to 0.80) | 6 | 714 | 0.78 (0.64 to 0.94) |
| Individual exercise: LiFE (balance and strength training in daily activities) versus control | 1 | 34 | 0.21 (0.06 to 0.71) | 1 | 31 | 0.73 (0.39 to 1.37) |
| Group exercise: Tai Chi versus control | 5 | 1563 | 0.72 (0.52 to 1.00) | 6 | 1625 | 0.71 (0.57 to 0.87) |
| Group exercise: gait, balance or functional training versus control | 4 | 519 | 0.72 (0.55 to 0.94) | 3 | 453 | 0.81 (0.62 to 1.07) |
| Group exercise: strength/resistance training versus control | 1 | 64 | 1.80 (0.84 to 3.87) | 1 | 120 | 0.77 (0.52 to 1.14) |
| Individual exercise at home: resistance training versus control | 1 | 222 | 0.95 (0.77 to 1.18) | 1 | 222 | 0.97 (0.68 to 1.38) |
| Individual exercise: balance training versus control | 1 | 128 | 1.19 (0.77 to 1.82) | – | – | – |
| Individual exercise: general physical activity (walking) versus control | – | – | – | 1 | 196 | 0.82 (0.53 to 1.26) |
| Subgroup analysis by falls risk at baseline | ||||||
| Group exercise: multiple-component exercise versus control | ||||||
| Higher risk of falling | 9 | 1261 | 0.70 (0.58 to 0.85) | 12 | 1430 | 0.87 (0.78 to 0.97) |
| Lower risk of falling | 7 | 2361 | 0.72 (0.58 to 0.90) | 10 | 3903 | 0.85 (0.68 to 1.06) |
| Group exercise: Tai Chi versus control | ||||||
| Higher risk of falling | 2 | 555 | 0.95 (0.62 to 1.46) | 2 | 555 | 0.85 (0.71 to 1.01) |
| Lower risk of falling | 3 | 1008 | 0.59 (0.45 to 0.76) | 4 | 1070 | 0.58 (0.46 to 0.74) |
*Random effect meta-analysis.