Table 3 Balance board plus aerobic training (combined balance, strength and aerobics, high challenge balance)

Cognitive-motor only

Agmon 2011 [43] N = 7

IG1: Static balance, strength, aerobics 12 wk, 3/wk, 30 min (5 sessions in first wk)

Continuing care retirement; age 84 (5), 65+; impaired balance (BBS < 52 points); able to walk 4 m without assistive device; no cognitive impairment ty 8(Brief Screen for Cognitive Impairment ≤4); no musculoskeletal or neurologic disorder; no routine use of walking aids; adequate vision and hearing;

+ BBS pre 49 (2.1) post 53 (1.8), p = .017 Gait speed pre 1.04 (0.2) post 1.33 (0.84) m/s, p = .018

CG: N/A

Maillot 2012 [51] N = 30

IG: Static balance, strength, aerobics 12 wk, 2/wk, 60 min

Community-dwelling; age 73.5 (3.6), 65–78; self-rated health better than bad; sedentary; no visual or auditory impairment; no cognitive impairment (mean MMSE = 29 (1))

+ Physical Wilk’s Λ = .31, F(10, 18) = 4.06, p = .005

TUG change −0.94 (0.62) t = 4.53, p < .01

CG: passive

STS change 2.73 (2.28), t = −4.91, p < .01

EF Wilk’s Λ = .19, F(6, 23) = 15.79, p = .001

TMT B-A change −15.42 (20.27), t = −2.12, p = .04

Stroop incongruent (number) change 9.13 (8.80), t = −3.412, p < .01

Processing speed Wilk’s Λ = .21, F(8, 21) = 9.75, p = .001

Cancellation (Number) change 10.00 (6.09), t = −5.423, p = .01

simple RT (ms) change −103 (93), t = 3.962, p < .01

choice RT (ms) change −104 (74), t = 3.082, p < .01

No Visuo-spatial

Williams 2010 [42] N = 15

IG: Static balance, strength, aerobics 12 wk, 2/wk, individual (most 15 min)

76% community-dwelling; age 76.7 (5.1) of n = 21, 70+; fall past year; no severe cognitive impairment (Abbreviated Mental Test ≥ 7); no wheelchair; 48% walking aid

+ BBS 4 wk pre 43.7 (9.5) post 48.1 (7.2), p = .02

No POMA 4/12 wk, FES-I 4/12 wk, BBS 12 wk

CG: N/A (reported as CCT but only within group analysis)

Laver 2012 [37] N = 44

IG: Static balance, strength, aerobics → individual treatment needs

Rehabilitation hospital; age 84.9 (4.5), 65+; no major cognitive impairment (MMSE ≥ 21); able to perform sit to stand without assistance; previously ambulating independently; adequate vision; various causes for hospitalisation

+ FIM pre 100.45 (16.71) post 108.64 (15.78), p < .001

+ change in outcome based on number of sessions during hospital stay: IG improved on average 1.26 s/session on the TUG (p = 0.048) and performed better per session on the MBBS (p = 0.042) than CG

No mBBS, TUG, IADL, ABC

LOS, 5/wk, 25 min

No mBBS, TUG, SPPB, IADL , FIM, ABC

CG: Physio to maximise functional mobility (walking and transfers)

LOS, 5/wk, 25 min

Cognitive-motor plus other components

Mendes 2012 [31] N = 27

IG: Static balance, strength, aerobics + mobility 7 wk, 2/wk, 10 games/2 attempts per game + 30 min

Community-dwelling; age 68.6 (6.4); PD (Hoehn and Yahr I and II); no other problems; no other neurological disorder; no orthopaedic problems; no cognitive impairment (MMSE ≥ 24); GDS (15 items) < 6; no visual or auditory impairment

+ FR 1 wk p = .003, 3mo p = .02

CG: N/A

Pompeu 2012 [33] N = 32

IG: Static balance, strength, aerobics + strength and mobility 7 wk, 2/wk, 30 min + 30 min

Age 60–85, 67.4 (8.1); idiopathic PD; Hoehn and Yahr stage 1–2; good visual and auditory acuity; no other neurological disorder or orthopaedic disorder; no cognitive impairment (MMSE ≥ 24), no depression (GDS-15 score <6)

+ BBS pre 52.9 (4.1) post 54.4 (2.2) follow-up54.1 (2.0), p < .005

No BBS, OLS, MOCA, DT

OLS EO pre 23.4 (22.0) post 32.9 (22.6) follow-up 31.2 (23.1), p < .01

CG: balance + strength and mobility 7 wk, 2/wk, 30 min + 30 min

MOCA pre 20.6 (4.5) post 22.2 (4.5) follow-up 21.8 (4.5), p < .001

No OLS EC, DT

Rendon 2012 [54] N = 40

IG: WBB balance + strength plus cycling 6 wk, 3/wk, 35-45 min

Outpatient clinic; community-dwelling; age 60–95, 84.5 (5.3); able to participate in physical activity for 45–60 min; self-reported normal vision; no orthopaedic, neurological or circulatory disorders that prevent participation; 15% walking aids; No participant was able to complete the entire series of exercises without the use of the assistive device at least one time

+ TUG p = .038

CG: passive

ABC p = .038

No Depression

Chao 2013 [65] N = 7

IG: Static balance, strength, aerobics + health education and self-efficacy 8 wk, 2/wk, 30 min + 30 min

Assisted living facility; age 80–94; 65+; 86 (5); able to ambulate with or without an assistive device; able to understand instructions; medically stable; no contraindications for exercise; n = 3 cognitive deficit;

+ BBS pre40.9 (8.5) post 45.1 (6.3), p = .017

TUG pre19.4 (5.5) post 15.8 (5.1), p = .063

CG: N/A

FES pre31.3 (15.7) post 23.6 (14.1), p = .058