Adherence
Functional and balance training performed at least twice weekly significantly reduces the rate of falls in adults over 50, with high-certainty evidence supporting this intervention for fracture prevention.
Perform balance and functional exercises at least twice a week. Focus on activities that challenge your stability, such as standing on one foot, heel raises, or agility drills. Progressively make these exercises harder by increasing speed, complexity, or resistance. This is the most effective non-pharmacological way to prevent falls in older adults.
High-quality evidence from a Cochrane systematic review shows that functional and balance training in adults older than 50 years can reduce the number of falls (rate ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–0.80; 41 studies, 7290 participants; high-certainty evidence)... We recommend balance and functional training ≥ twice weekly to reduce the risk of falls.
Why this rating
Based on Cochrane systematic review with high-certainty evidence from 41 studies.
Source
Clinical practice guideline for management of osteoporosis and fracture prevention in Canada: 2023 update
Suzanne N. Morin et al. · Canadian Medical Association Journal · 2023
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