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Healthy ageing
Cochrane review
Exercise prevents falls in older adults
Reviewed by Joseph Korban, Certified Personal Trainer & Rehabilitation Specialist · Last reviewed 27 September 2026
Balance and functional exercises cut the rate of falls by 24% (rate ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.81; 39 studies, 7,920 participants, high-certainty evidence) in older people living in the community. This is the strongest evidence in this list, from a Cochrane review.
What to know
- Practise standing balance and everyday movements such as sit-to-stand and stepping.
- Do it several times a week and keep progressing the difficulty.
- Ask a physiotherapist for a plan if you have already fallen or feel unsteady.
Evidence
- Sherrington C, Fairhall NJ, Wallbank GK, et al. Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;1(1):CD012424.