The objective of this study was to consider which specific exercise type is effective in preventing falls and improving mobility in institutionalized elderly persons. Studies were identified by searching Medline, Embase and the Cochrane database, followed by citation tracking and hand-searching. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in institutionalized elderly subjects, studying the relation between exercise and strength, balance, gait, mobility and falls, were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the internal validity of 12 RCTs using a criteria list. Data were extracted according to Cochrane methodology. Short-term exercise studies revealed a relation between exercise interventions and strength. Pooling did not show effects of exercise on balance, mobility and gait, although some studies reported an effect on gait. We concluded that there is, as yet, no convincing evidence for effects of exercises on factors associated with mobility and falls in institutionalized elderly persons, except for effects on muscle strength in short-term studies.

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A brief summary and a critical assessment of this review may be available at DARE