RIAGE - Revista Ibero-Americana de Gerontologia · Oct 22, 2026
Effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise program with vestibular training on functional capacity and fall risk in a geriatric population
By Guapo CADS
Falls are an important cause of morbidity, mortality and hospitalisation, making their prevention a clinical priority.Objective: To analyse functional change after a multicomponent exercise programme incorporating vestibular exercises in markers of functional capacity and fall risk in older adults, exploring differences according to sex and fall history. Methods: A prospective single-group quasi-experimental pilot study involving 65 older adult participants admitted to a convalescence unit and able to walk. The programme ran for four weeks, with two sessions per week, and included strength, balance, gait, dual-task and flexibility training, fall-prevention education, vestibular exercises and cervical sensorimotor tasks. The assessment included the Timed Up and Go, One-Leg Stance, 10-Metre Walk Test, 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Results: The sample had a mean age of 78.71 years, 60% were women, with a predominance of musculoskeletal diagnoses and a history of falls in 75.4%. Significant improvements were observed in mobility, balance, strength, gait speed and fear of falling, notably in the Timed Up and Go test (-15.58 seconds), the 30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test (+4.38 repetitions) and gait speed (+0.27 metres per second). Participants with a history of falls remained more vulnerable after the intervention. Conclusions: The programme was associated with improvements in markers of independence and fall risk, supporting individualised prescription and suggesting that the integration of vestibular and cervical sensorimotor exercises may be appropriate in clinical practice for patients with sensory and postural vulnerability.