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Table 3 Most Frequently Prescribed Exercises and Their Challenge Scores

From: Design characteristics and inclusion of evidence-based exercise recommendation in fall prevention community exercise programs for older adults in Canada: a national descriptive self-report study

Exercises and Form

Number of Programs (%)

Challenge Score (max = 5)

The majority perform with arm support

The majority perform without arm support

With arm support

Without arm support

Sit to stand (up from chair)

31(22%)

107 (76%)

3

4

Raising arms- any direction

20 (14%)

115 (82%)

1

2

Heel raises

70 (50%)

63 (45%)

2

4

One-legged stance

91 (65%)

42 (30%)

1

3

Basic standing, focused on not leaning/staying upright relative to the floor/gravity

23 (16%)

108 (77%)

0

1

Walking (comfortable pace)

10 (7%)

121 (86%)

2

3

Basic standing comfortable position

14 (10%)

116 (83%)

0

1

Standing narrow stance

40 (29%)

89 (64%)

1

2

Standing tandem (toe-heel directly in front of one another)

64 (46%)

65 (46%)

1

3

Standing wide stance

13 (9%)

115 (82%)

0

1

Shifting weight as far as possible in either direction

60 (43%)

68 (49%)

1

3

Hip strategy weight shifts

52 (37%)

70 (50%)

1

3

Ankle strategy weight shifts

55 (39%)

67 (48%)

1

3

Walking sideways- side steps

18 (13%)

98 (70%)

2

3

Heel to toe (tandem) walking

45 (32%)

67 (48%)

3

4

Walking while talking

12 (9%)

99 (71%)

1

3

Walking and changing directions (i.e., a turn of more than 45 degrees)

22 (16%)

83 (59%)

3

5

Strength Exercises and Forms

The majority perform while sitting

The majority perform while standing

  

Legs (e.g., squats, lunges, etc.)

16 (11%)

117 (84%)

N/A

Arms (e.g., bicep curl, triceps extension, etc.)

50 (36%)

77 (55%)

N/A

Chest (e.g., wall push-ups, chest press, etc.)

31 (22%)

92 (66%)

N/A

Shoulders (e.g., overhead press, deltoid lateral raise, etc.)

57 (41%)

65 (46%)

N/A

Core (e.g., plank, seated ab crunch, rows, etc.)

91 (65%)

24 (17%)

N/A