Interventions for addressing low balance confidence in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 


Author: Rand D, Miller WC, Yiu J, Eng JJ.

Affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. 
Conference/Journal: Age Ageing.
Date published: 2011 May
Other:
 Volume ID: 40   ,  Issue ID: 3   ,  Pages: 297-306   ,  Word Count: 176  
    low balance confidence is a major health problem among older adults restricting their participation in daily life.



OBJECTIVES:

to determine what interventions are most effective in increasing balance confidence in older adults. Design: systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials including at least one continuous end point of balance confidence. Studies, including adults 60 years or older without a neurological condition, were included in our study.



METHODS:

the standardised mean difference (SMD) of continuous end points of balance confidence was calculated to estimate the pooled effect size with random-effect models. Methodological quality of trials was assessed using the Physical Therapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale.



RESULTS:

thirty studies were included in this review and a meta-analysis was conducted for 24 studies. Interventions were pooled into exercise (n = 9 trials, 453 subjects), Tai Chi (n = 5 trials, 468 subjects), multifactorial intervention (n = 10 trials, 1,233 subjects). Low significant effects were found for exercise and multifactorial interventions (SMD 0.22-0.31) and medium (SMD 0.48) significant effects were found for Tai Chi.



CONCLUSION:

Tai chi interventions are the most beneficial in increasing the balance confidence of older adults.



PMID: 21508204