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Exercise training is associated with lower risk for falls and possibly for fall-related injuries. In this meta-analysis of 40 randomized, controlled trials (mean duration, 17 months) that involved almost 22,000 community-dwelling or institutionalized elders (mean age, 73), researchers explored the value of exercise in lowering risk for falls, fractures, hospitalizations, and death. Most studies involved multicomponent training (aerobic activity plus strength and balance training).
Researchers found no beneficial effects on hospitalization or death among participants in exercise programs compared with those in control groups. In trials for which fracture rate was reported as an outcome, fewer fractures occurred among those who exercised, but …