Exercise improved balance and walking in older adults
Standing-balance errors fell 58–74% after eight weeks of supervised exercise compared with usual-activity controls, with gains largely maintained two months later.
44 older adults, blinded, registered UMIN000055127
Limit: Excluding exercise participants with poor attendance could overstate benefits among all assigned participants
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
In a randomized trial, 44 community-dwelling adults aged 60–75—20 women and 24 men—were assigned to supervised breathing and movement exercises or usual activities. The program, called dynamic neuromuscular stabilization, involved three 40–50-minute sessions weekly for eight weeks. Outcome assessors did not know participants’ group assignments.
Among 39 participants who completed all assessments, the exercise group improved balance compared with controls. After training, walking speed increased 28%, fear-of-falling scores fell 42%, and physical and mental quality-of-life scores improved compared with controls. Gains were largely maintained at the two-month follow-up, during which no further exercise program was provided. Controls showed no meaningful changes. No adverse events were reported. Three exercise participants were excluded for low attendance; two controls missed testing because of scheduling conflicts.
Why it matters
Age-related declines in balance and walking can threaten independence. The trial addressed whether exercise benefits can persist after supervised training ends.
Caveats
Only 39 completers were analyzed, and improvements in fall-risk measures do not show that falls decreased. Follow-up lasted only two months, and the trial excluded people with a history of imbalance-related falls, diabetes or peripheral neuropathy.
From the paper
- Participants
The remaining 44 participants (22 per group; 20 women, 24 men) were randomized using computer-generated random numbers (simple randomization, 1:1 ratio) via GPower software (version 3.1.9.7), stratified by sex to balance groups.
- Who took part
From an initial pool of 83 community-dwelling older adults (aged 60–75 years) identified at the Rasht City Nursing Home, 44 underwent screening after exclusions for ineligibility (n = 31; e.g., did not meet inclusion criteria such as independent ambulation or fall history).
- Duration
The intervention group performed a supervised DNS program for eight weeks, three times per week (40–50 min per session, totaling 24 sessions).
Methods, Intervention group (dynamic neuromuscular stabilization [DNS] training)
- Limitation
The follow-up period was limited, which restricts conclusions about long-term maintenance of effects.
- Static balance
Significant group × time interactions were also found for firm surface, F(2,74) = 39.23, p < 0.001; foam surface, F(2,74) = 27.16, p < 0.001; and total score, F(2,74) = 45.75, p < 0.001.
- Dynamic balance
Dynamic balance demonstrated significant main effects of time, F(2,74) = 48.08, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.56, and group, F(1,37) = 4.59, p = 0.03, ηₚ² = 0.11, and a significant group × time interaction, F(2,74) = 32.78, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.47.
- Gait speed
Analyses of gait speed showed significant main effects of time, F(2,74) = 17.86, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.31, and group, F(1,37) = 4.21, p = 0.04, ηₚ² = 0.10, and a significant group × time interaction, F(2,74) = 17.36, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.31.
- Fear of falling
Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant main effects of time, F(2,74) = 29.53, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.44, and group, F(1,37) = 12.00, p = 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.24, and a significant group × time interaction, F(2,74) = 17.75, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.32.
- Health-related quality of life
Significant group × time interactions were also identified for physical, F(2,74) = 24.99, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.40, and mental components, F(2,74) = 22.35, p < 0.001, ηₚ² = 0.37.
Quoted word for word from the full text on nature.com.
The paper
University of Mazandaran; University of Guilan
Scientific Reports, Jul 8, 2026, Open access
