Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31277132›Full record

SynthesisMedicine2019

Physical activity programs for balance and fall prevention in elderly: A systematic review.

Ewan Thomas, Giuseppe Battaglia, Antonino Patti, Jessica Brusa, Vincenza Leonardi, Antonio Palma, Marianna Bellafiore

4 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 4 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 160 papers, 13 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
160citing papers in PubMed, 13 pooled it
55.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05360667 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

The Clinical Effectiveness of Exergame-based Exercise Training in the Prevention of Fragile Syndrome and Sarcopenia Among Elders in Rural Long-term Care Facilities

TypeinterventionalSponsorCishan Hospital, Ministry of Health and WelfareRan2022 to 2023Enrolled60ConditionsSarcopenia, Frailty, Long Term Care FacilityArmsStandard care plus plus Exergame-based multicomponent training program, Standard care
NCT05937009 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Orientation Exercise Program on Older Adults, Motor Skills, Cognitive and Emotional State: a Pilot Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of ÉvoraRan2023 to 2024Enrolled54ConditionsCommunity-dwelling Older AdultsArmsOrienteering exercise program
NCT07033637 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Promoting Health Through Symbiosis: Exploring the Relationship Between Gut Microbiota, Probiotics, and Physical Activity in Older Adults

TypeinterventionalSponsorJose Luis FelipeRan2025 to 2026Enrolled90ConditionsGut -Microbiota, Older People, Physical Activity, Physical FitnessArmsDietary Supplement, Placebo, Structured Physical Activity Program
NCT07150364 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Comparison of Square Stepping Exercise and Wobble Board Exercise on Cognition, Balance and Fall Risk in Elderly Population

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2024 to 2026Enrolled38ConditionsElderly PopulationArmsSquare Stepping Exercise, Wobble Board Exercise
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

160 citing papers in PubMed, 13 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 385 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Effectiveness of physical exercise on postural balance in patients with haemophilia: A systematic review.Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia · 2022
    Pooled it
  11. Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Pooled it
  14. Trial
  15. Trial
  16. Trial
  17. Trial
  18. Effects of Remote Exercise on Physical Function in Pre-Frail Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2025
    Trial
  19. Trial
  20. Trial

100 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Ewan ThomasSport and Exercise Research Unit, Department of Psychological, Pedagogical, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Giuseppe Battaglia
Antonino Patti
Jessica Brusa
Vincenza Leonardi
Antonio Palma
Marianna Bellafiore
University of Palermo · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDue to demographic changes the world's population is progressively ageing. The physiological decay of the elderly adult may lead to a reduction in the ability to balance and an increased risk of falls becoming an important issue among the elderly. In order to counteract the decay in the ability to balance, physical activity has been proven to be effective. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature in order to identify physical activity programs able to increase balance in the elderly.

methodsThis review is based on the data from Medline-NLM, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscuss and includes randomized control trials that have analyzed balance and physical activity in healthy elderly over 65 years of age during the last decade. A final number of 8 manuscripts were included in the qualitative synthesis, which comprised 200 elderly with a mean age of 75.1 ± 4.4 years. The sample size of the studies varied from 9 to 61 and the intervention periods from 8 to 32 weeks.

resultsEight articles were considered eligible and included in the quantitative synthesis. The articles investigated the effects of resistance and aerobic exercise, balance training, T-bow© and wobble board training, aerobic step and stability ball training, adapted physical activity and Wii Fit training on balance outcomes. Balance measures of the studies showed improvements between 16% and 42% compared to baseline assessments.

conclusionsBalance is a multifactorial quality that can be effectively increased by different exercise training means. It is fundamental to promote physical activity in the aging adult, being that a negative effect on balance performance has been seen in the no-intervention control groups.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsAgedExerciseExercise TherapyHumansMuscle StrengthPostural Balance

Identifiers

PMID31277132
PMCPMC6635278
OpenAlexW2961036073

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.