Could an exercise regime help ease injuries?
Exercise programmes designed to prevent falls in older adults by improving balance and building general muscle strength also appear to prevent injuries caused by falls, according to a paper in the British Medical Journal.
Commenting on the research, Dr Catherine Hood from the Simplyhealth Advisory Research Panel notes:
“Exercise programmes which help improve balance and build muscle strength make an important contribution to the care of older people and their health, particularly in helping to prevent falls. However, falling over may often result in injury, such as fractures, long term pain and poor ability to function normally. Falls also increase the risk of needing to go to a nursing home and have a high economic cost as well as personal cost to individuals and their families.
“Although studies have shown that well-designed exercise programmes can prevent falls, evidence that such programmes can prevent injuries and the consequent pain and poor mobility is lacking.
“In this latest study, researchers wanted to find out whether exercise programmes to prevent falls are associated with a significantly lower risk of fractures and other injuries due to falls if they do occur. This was systematic review of 17 trials with a total of 2195 participants in the exercise group and 2110 in the control groups. The mean age of the participants was 76 years and 77 per cent were women.
“Tai Chi was the exercise in two of the trials but the rest consisted of walking, balance and functional training (exercise which involves training for activities performed in daily life). Most trials also included strength and/or resistance training exercises.
“Most of the exercise interventions tended to reduce injuries from falls, including fractures, bruises and injuries leading to hospital admissions. Overall, exercise programmes seemed to significantly decrease the rate of falls resulting in medical care, serious injuries and fractures.
“All the programmes that helped to prevent falls involved balance by improved cognitive function.
“Exercise programmes to reduce the risk of falling may be an important means of preventing fractures and other injuries. Health care providers should encourage older patients to participate in exercise programmes to prevent falls and should inform themselves of the availability of such programmes in their locality.”