March 22, 2010BERLIN (Deutsche Presse-Agentur) -- Getting regular exercise is the most effective way for elderly people to reduce the risk and rate of falls, according to a systematic review of clinical trials cited by the Federal Association of Prevention and Health Promotion (BVPG), an independent German not-for-profit group.
The review included 111 trials, totalling 55,303 participants, contained in the Cochrane Library, a regularly updated collection of evidence-based medical databases kept by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international, not-for-profit, independent organization based in England.
Regular exercise lowered the risk of falls by 17 to 35 per cent, the review showed. Tai chi was the most effective type of exercise, reducing the rate of falls by 37 per cent and the risk of falls by 35 per cent. Other preventative measures, such as taking vitamin D or improving home safety, had little effect.
The review's authors said that approximately 30 per cent of people over 65 years of age still living at home fell at least once a year. The falls often have long-term physical and psychological consequences, such as slow-healing broken bones and lost confidence in mobility.
Copyright 2010 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
