Study, sample size | Intervention vs control (content, dose) | Sample characteristics | Main findings | |
---|---|---|---|---|
 | Within-group | Between-group | ||
Cognitive-motor only | ||||
Orsega-Smith 2012 [52] N = 34 | IG1: WBB balance + strength 4 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | Community-dwelling; age 72.1 (7.8), 55–86; independent, 88% self-reported health good or very good, 0% poor; overweight (mean BMI 27.19 (4.99); high-functioning (ceiling effect in several measures | + | + |
IG1 | IG1 vs CG: | |||
  BBS pre 51.69 (10.05) post 53.13 (8.48), p < .05 |   BBS mean difference 2.33 (0.77), p = .004 | |||
IG2: WBB balance + strength 8 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | ||||
  STS pre 11.81 (3.62) post 13.69 (3.89), p < .01, |   STS mean difference 2.54 (0.69), p = .002 | |||
  ADL pre 126.14 (19.53) post 130.36 (12.70), p < .05 | IG2 vs CG: | |||
 | IG2 |   BBS p = .05 | ||
  BBS pre 54.22 (1.79) post 55.44 (0.89 3), p < .05 |   STS p = .10 | |||
TUG pre 7.14 (1.08) post 6.74 (0.76), p = .06 |  | |||
CG: Passive |  |   ADL pre 130.22 (8.00) post 135.00 (3.50), p < .05 | No | |
  ABC pre 87.85 (11.19) post 93.93 (5.52), p < .05 | IG1 vs IG2: no sig differences in any measure | |||
IG1 vs CG: TUG | ||||
No | IG2: vs CG:TUG | |||
IG1: TUG, ABC, FES | Â | |||
IG2: STS, FES | ||||
Bieryla 2013 [64] N = 9 | IG: WBB balance + strength 3 wk, 3/wk, 30 min | Community-dwelling; age 70+; 70–92; 81.5 (5.5); healthy; able to stand unassisted for 30 minutes; walk a minimum of 6 meters without aid | + follow-up (1mo) |  |
  BBS pre 50 (47.5-51.5) follow-up 53 (52–54), p = .046 | ||||
CG: N/A (reported as RCT but only within group analysis) | ||||
No | ||||
Post: BBS, FAB, FR , TUG follow-up: FAB, FR, TUG | ||||
Young 2010 [56] N = 6 | IG: WBB balance (custom-made) 4 wk, 10 sessions, 20 min | Community-dwelling; age 84.1 (5.1); healthy; no falls past year | + sway variability decreased in EC A-P t(5) = 3.042; p = .03, |  |
No | ||||
CG: N/A | Sway variability EO and EC M-L | |||
Kim 2013 [48] N = 32 | IG: slow static balance and strength 8 wk, 3/wk, 60 min | Community-dwelling; age IG 68.3 (3.7), CG 66.2 (3.9); 65–75; independently ambulatory; able to stand on 1 leg for 15 seconds without any assistance; no history of orthopedic or neurologic surgery; MMSE ≥ 24; no dementia, cardiovascular disease, headache or dizziness | + | + |
Hip extension 55%, flexion 29.9%, adduction 48.6%, abduction 41.9%, all p < .001 | All hip muscles (p < .001 | |||
CG: passive | ||||
GRF backward stepping EO 15.4% p = .004, EC 11.5% p = .044 | GRF backward stepping test EC p = .028 | |||
GRF cross-over stepping EO 28.7% p < .001, EC 26.6% p < .001 | GRF cross-over stepping test EC p = .013 | |||
 | No GRF EO backward and cross-over stepping | |||
IG: Static balance 6 wk, 3/wk, 20 min | Community-dwelling; age 77 (5), 65+; healthy; highly motivated to exercise; able to walk without aids; no orthopedic or neurological disorders which prevent them from walking without aids or pressing the buttons on the interface; adequate vision; no cognitive impairments |  | + BBS p < .01 Figure-of-eight p < .01 | |
CG: passive (cross-over) | ||||
No Tandem, OLS with EO/EC | ||||
Bisson 2007 [46] N = 24 | IG: IREX, static standing 10 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | Community-dwelling; age 74.4 (4.3), 65+; no walking aids; no major cognitive impairment (MMSE > 19); no unexplained falls last year; no peripheral neuropathy, an uncontrolled heart problem, severe arthritis, severe back pain, a recent leg injury (last 6 mo), tunnel vision, or any vestibular problem | + CB&M pre 58.6, post 64.2, follow-up 64.7 F(2,46) = 14.5, p < 0.01 | No CB&M, RT , Sway no differences between groups and no training effect |
RT main effect of time F(2,44) = 10.30, p < 0.01, no change between post and follow-up | ||||
No Sway | ||||
CG: Biofeedback training on force plate 10 wk, 2/wk, 30Â min | Â | Â | Â | |
Pluchino 2012 [53] N = 27 | IG: WBB balance + strength 8 wk, 2/wk, 60 min | Community-dwelling; age 72.5 (8.4) of n = 40; independent; no neurologic disorders affecting balance; no severe cognitive impairment; no major depression; no unstable disease; no severe vestibular problems; no assistance in ADL | + DMA score pre 808.75 (98.17) post 761.13 (131.75), p = .036 No FROP-COM, TUG, OLS, POMA gait, POMA balance, FR, FES - Sway area pre −0.39 (0.23) post 1.65 (1.47), p < .001 (!) | No FROP-COM, TUG, OLS, POMA, FR, Sway, dynamic posturography, FES |
CG1: balance | ||||
Sway velocity pre 1.67 (0.57) post 1.90 (0.71), p = .013 | ||||
CG2: Tai Chi Both 8 wk, 2/wk, 60Â min | Â | Â | Â | |
Chen 2012 [47] N = 40 | IG: Static balance and strength (power) 6 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | Community-dwelling; age 75.9 (7.9), 65+; no dizziness/vertigo, degenerative neurological diseases, stroke, lower limbs fractures, cardio-pulmonary distress and any sensory, visual, auditory or cognitive impairment that would hinder testing procedures; no medication known to affect balance | + POMA pre 15.68 (1.38) post 23.33 (2.29), p < .001, +50% | + POMA p < .05 |
TUG p < .05 | ||||
CG: Strength and balance 6 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | STS p < .05 | |||
Power p < .05 | ||||
mFES p < .05 | ||||
FR pre 16.49 (3.37) post 22.26 (4.21), p < .001, +35% | No FR | |||
TUG pre 17.15 (4.49) post 12.90 (3.07), p = .026, −25% | ||||
STS pre 17.20 (3.51) post 12.46 (2.99), p = .004, −28% | ||||
Muscle power pre 4.56 (1.43) post 7.47(2.81), p < .001, +64% mFES pre 5.52 (1.28) post 8.14 (0.94), p = .002, +47% | ||||
Suarez 2006 [41] N = 26 | IG: Static balance under changing sensory conditions 6 wk, daily, 40 min | Outpatient clinic; age 73–82; balance disorder; >2 falls in last year; no musculoskeletal disorders, no dementia; no PD or neuropathy | + Sway area normal standing pre 10.4 (2.3) post 3.5 (1.4), p < .001 |  |
CG: N/A | ||||
Sway area optokinetic stimulation pre 22.4 (4.3) post 10.4 (4.2), p < .001 | ||||
Sway velocity normal standing pre 3.2 (0.5) post 2.4 (0.4), p < .001 | ||||
Sway velocity optokinetic stimulation pre 4.9 (1.4) post 2.9 (0.3), p < .001 | ||||
Duque 2013 [40] N = 28 (within) N = 58 (between) | IG: Static balance under changing sensory conditions plus ususal care (sham) 6 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | Community-dwelling; age 65+; IG 79.3 (10); CG 75 (8); falls and fracture clinic; at least 1 fall past 6 mo; poor balance; ambulate independently with a cane or walker; able to stand unaided for 60secs; MMSE ≥ 22; no PD, or neuromuscular condition; GDS ≤ 7; no severe visual impairment | + 6 wk | + 9mo falls 1.1 (0.7) vs CG 2 (0.2), p < .01 |
LOS 31%, p < .01 Sway area EC hard surface −33%; EC foam −52%, optokinetic stimulation 25%, Sway velocity vertical 50%, horizontal 33%, all p < .01 | LOS, p < .01 Sway area optokinetic stimulation, p < .01 | |||
CG: Usual care (Sham) | ||||
Sway velocity horizontal and vertical optokinetic stimulation, p < .01 | ||||
SAFFE , p < .01 | ||||
No Sway area standing hard surface/foam | ||||
Padala 2012 [36] N = 22 | IG: WBB balance + strength 8 wk, 5/wk, 30 min | Assisted living facility; age 80.5 (7.5), 60+; mild AD; MMSE ≥ 18; excluded: myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack or stroke in the previous 6 mo, serious mental illness which impacted memory, active cancer diagnosis with the exception of skin cancer, poor prognosis for survival (e.g., severe congestive heart failure), severe sensory (visual or auditory) or musculoskeletal impairments, or a required use of a wheel-chair for ambulation; 44% walking aid; mean 3.2 comorbidities | + BBS change 6.27 (5.27), p003 | No BBS, POMA, TUG, ADL, IADLs, MMSE |
CG: Walking 8 wk, 5/wk, 30Â min | ||||
POMA change 1.82 (2.04), p = .013 | ||||
No TUG, ADL, IADL, MMSE | ||||
Szturm 2011 [63] N = 27 | IG: static balance on firm or compliant surface 8 wk, 2/wk, 45 min | Geriatric day hospital; age 80.7 (6.5), 65–85; no cognitive impairment (MMSE > 24); independent ambulant; no condition or disability that prevents participation; 89% walking aids; mean gait speed <0.7 m/s | + BBS p < .001 TUG p = .07 LOB p = .03 ABC p < .05 | + BBS t = 5.9, df = 24, p < .001 |
TUG t = 1.87, df = 25, p = .08 | ||||
No Gait speed | ||||
LOB U = 37.2, p = .007 | ||||
ABC U = 44.5, p = .02 | ||||
No | ||||
Gait speed | ||||
CG: Strength, aerobics, balance | ||||
Yen 2011 [34] N = 42 | IG: Static balance with tilt 6 wk, 2/wk, 30 min CG1: balance (incl. tilt board) 6 wk, 2/wk, 30 min | Outpatient clinic; age 70.7 (6.4); idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages II and III); no cognitive impairment (MMSE > 24); no uncontrolled chronic diseases; no other neurological, cardiovascular or orthopaedic disorders affecting postural stability; no on-off motor fluctuation; no dyskinesia > grade 3 (UPDRS) | + SOT-6 pre 37.4 (25.3-49.4) post 54.3 (44.1-64.5) follow-up 48.6 (36.8-60.4), p < .05/3 | + Vs CG 2: DT SOT-6, p < .05/3 |
DT SOT-6 pre 39.9 (27.9-52.0) post 55.3 (43.7-66.9) follow-up 52.6 (41.3-66.9), p < .05/3 | No Vs CG 1: no in any measures Vs CG 2: ST SOT-6 | |||
CG2: none | ||||
ST SOT 1–5 DT SOT 1–5 Verbal RT | ||||
No SOT 1–5 Verbal RT DT SOT 1-5 | ||||
Cognitive-motor plus other components | ||||
Franco 2012 [57] N = 32 | IG: WBB plus strength and balance 3 wk, 2/wk, 10-15 min + daily 15 min | Independent-living facility; age 78.3 (6); able to walk independently; adequate vision; able to stand for at least 2 min; no reduced weight-bearing capability; cognitively able to understand instructions | + BBS F(1,29) = 17.034, p < .001, change 3.55 (5.03) | No BBS, POMA |
POMA F(1,29) = 9.715, p < .004, change 0.91 (2.39) | ||||
CG1: strength and balance 3 wk, 2/wk, 30-45Â min | ||||
CG2: none | ||||
Fung 2012 [35] N = 50 | IG: WBB plus strength and balance (TKR) | Outpatient clinic; age 68 (11); following knee replacement; full lower extremity weight bearing; no active painful OA in lower limb; no visual impairment |  | No knee extension, knee flexion and ABC |
LOS, 2/wk, 15 min + 2/wk, 60 min? | ||||
CG: Balance + strength | ||||
LOS, 2/wk, 60Â min | ||||
Griffin 2012 [44] N = 65 | IG: WBB plus strength and balance 7 wk? CG: strength and balance 7 wk? | Age 83.2 (5.5), 67–90; met the existing criteria to join the falls prevention training group (poor performance TUG, FR, 180 degree turn, flexibility); | +TUG −17% FR | + TUG FR |
No OLS | No OLS | |||
Kubicki 2014 [45] N = 32 | IG: Fovea, static standing (position/foam/unstable plate according to individual’s ability) + strength and balance; 3 wk, 2/wk, 10 sequences + 3 wk, 3/wk, 30 min | Short-term rehabilitation service; age 71–94; IG 82.2 (6.9), CG 81.5 (5.0); frail (Fried criteria); balance disorder; able to stand unassisted; multiple causes for hospitalisation; no pyramidal or extra-pyramidal syndrome or neuropathy; MMSE ≥24; gait speed = 0.65 (0.23) | + Hand RT (ms) pre 605 (244) post 446 (110), p < .05 | + Hand RT F1,29 = 5.057, p = 0.032 |
No Sway (mean velocity) TUG ST gait DT gait | ||||
-Sway velocity (APA) F(1,29) = 8.031, p < 0.01 (!) | ||||
CG: strength and balance; 3 wk, 3/wk, 30Â min | ||||
Sway velocity (acc) p = .075 |