To Prevent Falls In Older Age, Try Regular Exercise

Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among older adults. In 2014, about 1 in 3 adults aged 65 and older reported falling, and falls were linked to 33,000 deaths.

If you want to reduce the risk of falling, regular exercise may be your best bet, according to the latest recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

The influential group came to that conclusion after reviewing evidence from about 20 studies that included adults 65 and older. Half of the studies recruited people who were at a high risk of falling. When the USPSTF experts combined data from several studies, they found exercise reduced the likelihood of falls and injury related to falls.

“There were a range of exercise interventions studied, all of which seemed to be effective,” Dr. Alex Krist, vice chairperson of the USPSTF, said in an email.

The exercise programs focused on strength and resistance training, as well as balance and gait. “They included individual and group exercises, as well as referrals to a physical therapist or participation in a class like tai chi,” said Krist, who is also a professor of family medicine and population health at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

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