Ten studies were included in the review (2,293 participants, range 32 to 1,090 per study). Total PEDro scores were 7 (five studies), 6 (three studies) and 5 (two studies).
Comparisons of group-based exercise and no intervention (seven studies): Compared with controls, significant benefits were observed in intervention groups in the number of falls self-reported (four studies; effect sizes were calculable for two studies and were 0.19 and 0.25), injury rates associated with falls (two studies; one effect size was 0.17 and one was not calculable), scores on the Berg Balance test (one study; effect size 0.49), scores on conditions 5 and 6 on the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (one study; effect sizes not reported) and scores on the coordinated stability test (two studies; effect sizes not calculable).
Benefits in intervention groups were found for measures of postural sway (one study; effect size range 0.17 to 0.26), single-leg stance (one study; effect size 0.32), scores on the TUG/8 Foot Up and Go test (one study; effect size 0.12), scores on the 15D test of health-related quality of life (effect sizes not calculable), scores on the Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire (OPAQ) (one study; effect size range 0.46 to 0.76) and scores on OPAQ relating to fear of falls (one study; effect size 0.65).
There were no significant differences between groups for gait speed (one study; effect size 0), scores on the SF-36 (one study; effect size range 0.01-0.09) and fear of falling (one study; effect size not reported).
Comparisons of group-based exercise and home exercise programmes (three studies): One study found no significant decrease in fall rate in either the intervention or the control group. One study found improvements in both groups on Berg Balance Test scores, single-leg stance and the tandem stance but neither effect size nor statistical significance were calculable. One study used the SF-36 instrument to measure quality of life; results showed significant improvements in the intervention group for the role emotional category (effect size 0.17).
No significant differences between study groups were found in relation to self-reported fall rates (one study; effect size not calculable), gait speed (one study; effect size 0), scores on the Tug/8 Foot Up and Go test (two studies; one with an effect size of 0.10 and one with an effect size that was not calculable) and fear of falling (one study; effect size not calculable).