Multifactorial Programs for Healthy Older Adults to Reduce Falls and Improve Physical Performance: Systematic Review

Vânia Loureiro, Margarida Gomes, Nuno Loureiro, Agustín Aibar-Almazán and Fidel Hita-Contreras
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Vânia Loureiro: Department of Arts, Humanities and Sports, School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal
Margarida Gomes: Department of Arts, Humanities and Sports, School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal
Nuno Loureiro: Department of Arts, Humanities and Sports, School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal
Agustín Aibar-Almazán: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Fidel Hita-Contreras: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to investigate the effects of multifactorial programs on the rate of falls and physical performance in ?60 years old adults. A systematic literature search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library). A total of 518 articles were identified in the initial search, and six RCTs were finally included. Articles written in English, Portuguese and Spanish and published from January 2009 to May 2020 were included in this study. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated by the PEDro scale. A total of 518 studies were identified in the initial search, six RCTs were finally included, and three reached a level 1 of evidence. The findings of this systematic review of RCTs suggest that a physical exercise program, especially exercise group activities, combined with health education or with fall risk home assessment, were the most effective multifactorial program in reducing the rate of falls, although the results were not conclusive in all the studies included. Significant beneficial effects were observed in physical performance, particularly when assessed as gait, mobility and balance, regardless of the components of multifactorial program or exercise. This inconsistency in the results, particularly regarding the rate of falls, together with the variability among the multifactorial programs, suggest that any conclusion must be drawn with caution.

Keywords: fall; exercise; multifactorial falls risk assessment; prevention; elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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