Why the study?
Cardiovascular disease was classified as a potential fall risk factor in guidelines, but the role of individual cardiorespiratory fitness was not discussed.
Do acute bouts of aerobic exercise affect balance, and does aerobic capacity influence fall risk in older adults?
Do acute bouts of aerobic exercise affect balance, and does aerobic capacity influence fall risk in older adults?
Moderate to strenuous aerobic exercise transiently impairs balance in older adults for 10-30 minutes, highlighting the need to avoid balance-challenging tasks immediately post-exercise, while higher baseline aerobic capacity is associated with reduced fall risk.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
CVD assessment may aid fall risk stratification in older adults; leaves open optimal integration of cardiac interventions into multidomain prevention.
Abstract Background: Falls are a major health concern among older adults causing around 684,000 deaths annually. By 2050, 16% of the world population is projected to be 65 years and older hence effective fall prevention strategies are crucial for the health systems. The World Falls Guidelines from 2022 classified cardiovascular disease as a potential risk factor while recommending multidomain fall-prevention intervention strategies in older community dwelling adults. Individual cardiorespiratory fitness was not further discussed leading to the aim of this scoping review which is to (1) assess the effects acute bouts of aerobic exercise on balance, fall risk or fall rate and to (2) assess the relationship between aerobic capacity, balance, fall risk and fall rate in older adults. Methods: A scoping review was conducted, including peer-reviewed articles written in in English language, dating from 1957 to February 2024 that are listed in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Eligible for inclusion were articles using the following keywords and their synonyms: aerobic capacity, falls, balance, exercise, and older adults. The references were categorized in two topics: (1) effects of acute bouts of exercise on balance or gait performance as fall risk factors in older persons and (2) the direct relation between aerobic capacity, balance and fall rate in older adults. The findings were systematically summarized, using the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Results: Twelve articles with a total of 11,109 persons aged between 20 and 94 years old were included. Eight publications reported impaired balance after moderate to strenuous exercise in older adults. The direct relationship of aerobic capacity and fall risk was described in four publications, suggesting an inverse relationship. Conclusions: After acute bouts of aerobic exercise, an intensity-related impairment of balance in older persons was observed, a finding worth acknowledging when prescribing strenuous exercise with increased lactate levels to older adults. Since the effects lasted from 10 to 30 minutes, it is recommended to avoid balance challenging tasks after moderate to strenuous exercise in this demographic.
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Gashi et al. (2024) conducted a review in Fall risk and balance impairment (n=11,109). Acute bouts of aerobic exercise and aerobic capacity was evaluated on Balance impairment and fall risk.
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