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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jun 3:13:1522952.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1522952. eCollection 2025.

The Otago Exercise Program's effect on fall prevention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chenyu Wang  1 , Sung Min Kim  1   2   3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The Otago Exercise Program's effect on fall prevention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chenyu Wang et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) in fall prevention between generally healthy older adults and those with compromised health conditions, assessing which group benefits more from the intervention.

Design: This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of the OEP in fall prevention among general older adults and older adults with compromised health, including individuals at high risk of falls, cognitive impairment, musculoskeletal disorders, or frailty syndrome.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase, following strict eligibility criteria. Data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.

Results: Fifteen studies with 1,278 participants were included. The OEP significantly improved balance (WMD = 0.15, 95% CI [-0.05, 0.35]), gait (WMD = 0.49, 95% CI [0.18, 0.80]), and lower limb strength (WMD = 0.84, 95% CI [0.61, 1.07]) in general older adults. The effects were more pronounced in older adults with compromised health, particularly in gait, particularly in gait (WMD = 0.92, 95% CI [0.13, 1.72]) and lower limb strength (WMD = 2.24, 95% CI [1.04, 3.45]). However, the OEP did not significantly improve physical function or upper limb strength in either group.

Conclusion: The OEP effectively improves balance, gait, and lower limb strength, especially in older adults with compromised health. However, it does not significantly impact physical function or upper limb strength. This study has limitations, including potential bias, study heterogeneity, and variations in interventions, which may affect result reliability. A cautious interpretation is needed, and future research should focus on analyzing diverse populations and ensuring adequately sized samples to enhance the reliability of the findings.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (CRD42024549302), https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024549302.

Keywords: Otago exercise; fall; meta-analysis; older adult; prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Screening flowchart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias assessment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The impact of the OEP on improving balance in older adults.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Subgroup analysis results for balance.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Subgroup analysis results for balance.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The impact of the OEP on improving physical function in older adults.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The impact of the OEP on improving gait in older adults.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Subgroup analysis results for gait.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Subgroup analysis results for gait.
Figure 10
Figure 10
The impact of the OEP on improving lower limb strength in older adults.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Subgroup analysis results for lower limb strength.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Subgroup analysis results for lower limb strength.
Figure 13
Figure 13
The impact of the OEP on mobility in older adults.
Figure 14
Figure 14
The impact of the OEP on right hand grip strength in older adults.
Figure 15
Figure 15
The impact of the OEP on left hand grip strength in older adults.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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