Adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) face a heightened risk of falls. Exercise approaches have been identified as a potential strategy to improve physical function and mitigate fall risk. Evaluate the effectiveness of exercise in preventing and managing falls among adults and older adults with CVDs. A comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to June 2024 was conducted across five electronic databases. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess study quality. Thirteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Exercise protocols varied in frequency (2 to 5 sessions per week), session duration (20 to 60 minutes), and program length (6 to 12 weeks). Most studies have demonstrated significant improvements in physical function, as assessed through measures such as the 10-m walk test and the Berg Balance Scale. Fall risk reduction, primarily evaluated via the Falls Efficacy Scale, was observed in most studies, though two did not report significant effects. Exercise approaches enhance physical function and contribute to fall prevention in individuals with CVDs. However, variations in program design limit the ability to establish standardized recommendations. Further research is needed to determine the most effective exercise modalities for optimizing fall prevention strategies in this population.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PDF locator
• publisher