Table 1 Search strategy (Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1946 to July week 4 2013)

1

Accidental falls/(12522)

2

(Falls or faller$1 or fallen).tw. (27753)

3

1 or 2 (33935)

4

Exp Aged/ (2056836)

5

(Senior$1 or elderly or older).tw. (335684)

6

4 or 5 (2182495)

7

Randomized controlled trial.pt. (319542)

8

Controlled clinical trial.pt. (83511)

9

Randomized.ab. (224781)

10

Placebo.ab. (128471)

11

Randomly.ab. (162506)

12

Trial.ab. (231806)

13

Groups.ab. (1073150)

14

3 and 6 (13056)

15

7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 (1570937)

16

Humans.sh. (12063808)

17

15 and 16 (1190697)

18

14 and 17 (2966)

19

Limit 18 to ed=20080511-20120223 (968)