Exercisers Less Likely to Get Hurt in Falls

Research has shown that some kinds of exercise programs can help to keep older adults from falling. A new analysis finds that they also reduce injuries when people do fall. Researchers put together results from 17 studies of fall-prevention programs. More than 4,000 people were involved in the studies. Their average age was 77, and 3 out of 4 were women. Tai Chi was the exercise in two of the studies. Most of the programs used balance, gait and strength training. Many also used functional training, which helps people do normal activities. Overall, people in the exercise programs were about 37% less likely to be injured if they fell than people who did not get this training. They were 61% less likely to have broken bones after a fall. They also were 43% less likely to require a hospital stay.