exercise as a measure in the prevention of falls in older people
falls in older people are not purely random events but can be predicted by assessing a number of risk factors
some of these risk factors (e.g., reduced muscle strength and impaired balance and gait) can be modified using exercise, whereas others (e.g., poor vision, psychoactive medication use) require different intervention approaches.
Sherrington et al concluded that exercise can prevent falls in older people (1)
with respect to prevention of falls
greater relative effects are seen in programs that include exercises that challenge balance, use a higher dose of exercise, and do not include a walking program
Notes:
falls are not the only important outcome for exercise trials in older people, and other studies have shown that walking programs have health benefits including improved fitness, weight loss, and lower blood pressure (2)
2.Murphy MH, Nevill AM, Murtagh EM et al. The effect of walking on fitness, fatness and resting blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Prev Med 2007;44:377-385.
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