Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42029397›Full record

SynthesisClinical rehabilitation2026

Exercise to reduce falls in Community-Dwelling people after stroke: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Katharine Scrivener, Ingrid Lin, Louise Ada, Natasha A Lannin, Petra L Graham, Elisabeth Preston, Alena Haines, Sally Day, Lindy Clemson, Catherine M Dean

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Katharine ScrivenerDepartment of Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0851-7023
Ingrid LinDepartment of Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3613-6992
Louise AdaSydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-1369-5721
Natasha A LanninDepartment of Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2066-8345
Petra L GrahamFaculty Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2890-2447
Elisabeth PrestonFaculty of Health, The University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7918-824X
Alena HainesSydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Sally DaySydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Lindy ClemsonSydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2687-1114
Catherine M DeanSchool of Health Sciences and Nursing, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7502-1138

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of falls-prevention exercise compared with nothing, sham or another exercise intervention on reducing falls after stroke. To also determine the effect of falls-prevention exercise on balance, mobility and quality of life.Data sourcesSearches were conducted from inception to December 2025 on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and PEDro databases according to predefined search terms with details provided in supplementary materials.Review methodsRandomised trials were included if the intervention targeted falls and the primary outcome was the rate of falls or the number of people experiencing one or more falls. Other outcomes of interest were balance, mobility and quality of life. Methodological quality was rated with the PEDro scale. Two researchers independently extracted data, which was synthesised by meta-analysis.ResultsThree trials (n = 677) were included in the review. Exercise trended towards a lower rate of falls compared to no/sham intervention (IRR 0.84, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.15, p = 0.29) with uncertainty in the estimate (confidence interval includes the possibility of no effect). Exercise did not reduce the number of individuals experiencing one or more falls (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.18, p = 0.84). There was a trend towards improved balance (MD 0.49 steps in the Step Test, 95% CI -0.11 to 1.08, p = 0.11) and exercise did improve mobility a small amount (MD 0.04 m/s preferred walking speed, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.07, p < 0.01). No trials compared two exercise interventions.ConclusionThere is a suggestion that exercise can reduce the rate of falls after stroke but does not affect the number of individuals falling.RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42024520272.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsExercise TherapyStrokeStroke RehabilitationHumansIndependent LivingPostural BalanceQuality of Lifebalancefallsphysiotherapyrehabilitationstrokestroke rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID42029397
PMCPMC13620252

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.