Effects of Power Training on Functional Capacity Related to Fall Risk in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Methodology

Meta-analysis

Population

12 RCTs, n=478 older adults (community-dwelling, generally ≥60 y)

Intervention

Power (high-velocity) resistance training vs. control or conventional training

Findings

Power training produced only borderline/near-null improvements in fall-risk-related functional capacity: Timed Up and Go improved by about a third of a second (borderline significance) and 30-second sit-to-stand by a non-significant margin — counter-evidence to strong claims that power training is clearly superior for fall prevention.

Outcome measures

Timed Up and Go (TUG), 30-second sit-to-stand, other fall-risk-related functional tests

Limitations

Small pooled sample; heterogeneous power-training protocols and control conditions; limited number of trials per outcome; falls themselves not measured as an outcome (only surrogate functional tests).

Original source

DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.01.022 · PMID: 36868491