Trial reportBMC geriatrics2021
The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults.
Trial report in BMC geriatrics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effectiveness of dual-task exercise in improving balance and preventing falls among older adults: systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression.European geriatric medicine · 2025Pooled it
- A Systematic Review Exploring the Theories Underlying the Improvement of Balance and Reduction in Falls Following Dual-Task Training among Older Adults.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Home-Based Indoor Physical Activity Programs for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review.Sports healthPooled it
- Efficacy of sensory-based static balance training on the balance ability, aging attitude, and perceived stress of older adults in the community: a randomized controlled trial.BMC geriatrics · 2024Trial
- A Standard Operating Procedure for Dual-Task Training to Improve Physical and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.Brain sciences · 2025Review
- Effects of a multi-modal static and dynamic balance and hand function training program on multi-dimensional balance ability, hand function, and life-space mobility in rural older adults: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Effectiveness of exercise prescription variables to reduce fall risk among older adults: a meta-analysis.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2025Review
- What are the hidden shortcomings of balance training research in older adults that prevent its transfer into practice? Scoping review.PloS one · 2025Article
- The reliability and validity of the cone evasion walk test in patients with hip osteoarthritis.The British journal of occupational therapy · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHigh prevalence rates have been reported for physical inactivity, mobility limitations, and falls in older adults. Home-based exercise might be an adequate means to increase physical activity by improving health- (i.e., muscle strength) and skill-related components of physical fitness (i.e., balance), particularly in times of restricted physical activity due to pandemics.
objectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the effects of home-based balance exercises conducted during daily tooth brushing on measures of balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults.
methodsFifty-one older adults were randomly assigned to a balance exercise group (n = 27; age: 65.1 ± 1.1 years) or a passive control group (n = 24; age: 66.2 ± 3.3 years). The intervention group conducted balance exercises over a period of eight weeks twice daily for three minutes each during their daily tooth brushing routine. Pre- and post-intervention, tests were included for the assessment of static steady-state balance (i.e., Romberg test), dynamic steady-state balance (i.e., 10-m single and dual-task walk test using a cognitive and motor interference task), proactive balance (i.e., Timed-Up-and-Go Test [TUG], Functional-Reach-Test [FRT]), and muscle strength (i.e., Chair-Rise-Test [CRT]).
resultsIrrespective of group, the statistical analysis revealed significant main effects for time (pre vs. post) for dual-task gait speed (p < .001, 1.12 ≤ d ≤ 2.65), TUG (p < .001, d = 1.17), FRT (p = .002, d = 0.92), and CRT (p = .002, d = 0.94) but not for single-task gait speed and for the Romberg-Test. No significant group × time interactions were found for any of the investigated variables.
conclusionsThe applied lifestyle balance training program conducted twice daily during tooth brushing routines appears not to be sufficient in terms of exercise dosage and difficulty level to enhance balance and muscle strength in healthy adults aged 60-72 years. Consequently, structured balance training programs using higher exercise dosages and/or more difficult balance tasks are recommended for older adults to improve balance and muscle strength.
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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.