We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL to identify relevant studies published in peer reviewed journals from inception to July 2013. In the Cochrane Library the search terms were: (fall) and (exercise or tai chi or training or physical activity) excluding (Alzheimer or Parkinson’s or dementia or nursing home or protocol or athletes) in the title or abstract of trials, with the word “prevention” in the text and the word variations option enabled. We also selected references in relevant reviews for screening.7 8 10 Two investigators (FEK, PDM) independently screened the titles, abstracts, and full text of identified papers to determine their eligibility for inclusion (see supplementary file). Discrepancies were resolved by discussion.
Inclusion criteria were randomised controlled trials of fall prevention exercise interventions, published in English or French, targeting community dwelling adults aged over 60 years, and providing quantitative data on injurious falls, serious falls, fall related injuries, or fall induced fractures. We included studies where exercise was compared with no intervention (usual activity or usual care) or a placebo control intervention (for example, general health education classes, social visits, or a low intensity exercise programme not designed to modify the risk of falling). We excluded studies in which exercise was part of a multifactorial programme such that participants received other interventions (for example, home management, visual treatment) in addition to exercise, and when participants were selected for a specific neurodegenerative disease or any other characteristic that greatly affected the risk of falling but was not correctable by exercise (such as severe visual impairment).