Table 1 Characteristics of included studies for fall-induced injuries

Barnett, 2003 [32], Australia

RCT; study duration: 1 yr

74.4 ± 4.9, 75.4 ± 6.0

163 older people

1 h weekly of structured exercise, including balance, coordination, aerobic capacity and muscle strength training, plus home exercise

62.2%

Usual lifestyle

22, 28

Bischoff-Ferrari, 2010 [12], Switzerland

RCT; study duration: 12 mos

83.4 ± 7.2, 85.1 ± 6.5

173 patients with acute hip fracture

Daily 60 mins of balance and strength training during acute care, continuing the programme at home after discharge

69.0%

Usual care

9, 16

Campbell, 1997 [17], New Zealand

RCT; training for 1 yr, following-up for 2 yrs

83.4 ± 2.7, 84.3 ± 3.3

233 older women

30 mins of home-based programme of strength and balance retraining exercises, plus walking, 3 times per wk

NS

Usual activity levels

27, 43

El-Khoury, 2015 [19], France

RCT; study duration: 2 yrs

79.8 ± 2.8, 79.6 ± 2.8

706 older women

Weekly supervised progressive balance training, supplemented by six weekly individually prescribed home exercises

NS

No intervention

305, 397

Elley, 2008 [20], New Zealand

RCT; study duration: 1 yr

80.4 ± 4.8, 81.1 ± 5.3

312 older people

Daily strength and balance exercise

NS

Social visits

170, 156

Fitzharris, 2010 [21], Germany

RCT; study duration: 3.8 mos

76.1

1090 older people

Weekly strength and balance exercise class of 1 h for 15 weeks, supplemented by daily home exercises.

NS

No intervention

358, 446

Freiberger, 2012 [22], Germany

RCT; training for 12 mos and following-up for 24 mos

76.1 ± 4.1

280 older people fallen in the past

6 months

1 h of strength and balance training, or plus strength training and balance exercises, or plus endurance training, 2 times per wk

84%

No intervention

26, 35

Haines, 2009 [23], Australia

RCT; study duration: 6 mos

80.9 ± 8.9, 80.5 ± 6.5

53 adults with gait instability

Exercise programme combining lower limb strength and balance exercises

NS

Usual care

15, 32

Iliffe, 2014 [24], UK

RCT; training for 6 mos, following-up for 1 yr

72.9 ± 6.1&72.8 ± 5.8, 73.1 ± 6.2

1256 older people

Group exercise: 1 h of strength training, plus 2 times of walking per wk.; home exercise: 3 times per wk. of muscle strengthening and balance exercises plus 2 times of walking

NS

Usual lifestyle

111, 88

Iwamoto, 2009 [33], Japan

RCT; study duration: 5 mos

74.6 ± 5.6, 78.2 ± 5.6

68 older people

30 mins of calisthenics, body balance training, muscle power training, and walking ability training, 3 times per wk

100%

No intervention

0, 4

Kim, 2014 [25], Japan

RCT; training for 3 mos, following-up for 1 yr

77.8 ± 4.2, 78.0 ± 4.2

105 older adults with a fall history

60 mins of muscle strength and balance training, 2 times per wk

75.3%

No intervention

8, 13

Li, 2005 [34], US

RCT; training for 26 wks, following-up for 1 yr

76.9 ± 4.7, 78.0 ± 5.1

256 older people

1 h of Tai Chi exercise, 3 times per wk

80.0%

No intervention

7, 17

Luukinen, 2007 [26], Finland

RCT; study duration: 2 yrs

88.0 ± 3.0, 88.0 ± 3.0

484 older people with a fall history

5–15 repetitions of daily home exercise or group exercise, including walking exercises or self-care exercises

NS

No intervention

39, 41

MacRae, 1994 [35], US

RCT; study duration: 12 mos

72.4 ± 0.9, 70.0 ± 0.9

80 older people

1 h of strength and balance exercise, 3 times per wk

NS

Safety

Education

0, 3

Means, 2005 [27], US

RCT; training for 6 wks, following-up for 6 mos

73.5

338 older people

90 mins of active stretching, postural control, endurance walking, and repetitive muscle co-ordination exercises

NS

No intervention

15, 21

Pang, 2018 [28], China

RCT; 8-wk training and 6-mon follow-up

68.1 ± 9.0 vs 69.6 ± 10.8

84 stroke survivors

3 weekly 60-mins of balance and dynamic mobility training programme

93

Sham exercise

1, 6

Patil 2015 [29], Finland

RCT; study duration: 2 yrs

74.4 ± 2.9, 74.0 ± 3.1

409 older women with a history of falls

Twice weekly balance, weight bearing, strengthening, and functional exercises for the first 12 mos, and once weekly group and home exercise for remaining 12 mos

73% & 66%

Usual physical activity

115, 111

Reinsch, 1992 [36], US

RCT; study duration: 1 yr

73.3 ± 7.9, 75.9 ± 7.3

230 older people

1 h of stand-up/step-up exercises to improve strength and balance, 3 times per wk

NS

No intervention

11, 12

Robertson, 2001 [37], New Zealand

RCT; study duration: 1 yr

80.8 ± 3.8, 81.1 ± 4.5

240 older people

Muscle strengthening and balance exercise, 3 times a wk., plus a walking programme, 2 times a wk., training for 12 mos

71.0%

Usual care

42, 49

Rosendahl, 2008 [38], Sweden

RCT; training for 3 mos, following-up for 6 mos

85.3 ± 6.1, 84.2 ± 6.8

191 older people

29 sessions of progressively high intensity weight-bearing exercise to improve lower-limb strength, balance and gait ability

NS

The control activity program

64, 81

Schnelle, 2003 [39], US

RCT; study duration: 8 mos

87.3 ± 8, 88.6 ± 6.7

190 older people

5 sessions of walking or repeating sit-to-stand up, 5 days per wk

NS

Usual care

13, 21

Smulders, 2010 [40], Netherlands

RCT; training for 3 mos, following-up for 1 yr

70.5 ± 5.0, 71.6 ± 4.4

96 older people with fall history

Weight-bearing and walking exercises, and gait correction and fall prevention training programmes

92.8%

Usual lifestyle

20, 33

Taylor-Piliae, 2014 [30], US

RCT; study duration: 12 wks

71.5 ± 10.3, 68.2 ± 10.3

145 survivors of stroke

1 h of Taichi exercise, 3 times per wk

82.0%

Usual care

9, 13

Uusi-Rasi, 2015 [31], Finland

RCT; Study duration: 2 yrs

74.8 ± 2.9, 73.8 ± 3.1

409 women with a history of fall

Balance challenging, weight bearing, strengthening, and functional exercises, plus home-training program

72.8%

Take placebo

12, 26

von Stengel, 2009 [41], Germany

RCT; study duration: 18 mos

68.6 ± 3.0, 68.1 ± 2.7

151 postmenopausal women

Resistance training, plus impact and aerobic weight-bearing exercises, 4 days per wk

75.0%

Light physical exercises

17, 24