October 2007

Research: Exercise helps adults improve balance

Exercise can help older adults stay steady on their feet in later years, diminishing their risk of falls, according to a new review of research.

The review, titled “Exercise for improving balance in older people,” shows gains in balancing ability across different groups of adults who participated in a variety of exercises, such as walking, strength and balance training, dancing, and tai chi. The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research.

Some of the balance exercises included rising from a chair and training on one leg.

The analysis was gathered from evidence from 34 studies, which collectively included more than 2,800 participants. On average, the study participants were older than age 75, generally healthy, with a majority being women.

After engaging in an exercise program, study participants achieved improvements in different kinds of balance measures, such as walking speed, standing on one leg, and reaching forward without tipping over.

Source: Health Behavior News Service, or www.hbns.org

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