SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Aging and Public Health
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1636439
This article is part of the Research TopicBiomechanics of Aging: Advances in Exercise and Intervention Strategies for Older Adult WellnessView all 8 articles
A Systematic Review of Multicomponent vs. Single-Component Training Programs for Fall Prevention in Older AdultsComparing Multicomponent and Single-Component Training Programs to Prevent Falls in the Elderly: A Systematic Review
Provisionally accepted
- 1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Krakow, Poland
- 2Department of Rehabilitation in Rheumatology and Geriatrics, Institute of Clinical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Physical Rehabilitation, University of Physical Culture, 31-571 Kraków, Poland, Kraków, Poland
- 3Institute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Culture, 31-571 Kraków, Poland, Kraków, Poland
- 4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland, Kraków, Poland
- 5Faculty of Sport, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland, Wrocław, Poland
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Background: Falls among adults aged 60 years and older often result in serious injury, yet studies evaluating single-component exercise interventions have not been directly compared with those incorporating multiple modalities. This review set out to assess whether multicomponentmultimodal training programs combining strength, balance, and aerobic exercises are more effective at preventing falls in older adults than single-component regimens. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and EBSCO yielded 284 records, of which six randomized controlled trials (n = 40-670; age range 60-80 years) met inclusion criteria. All interventions lasted at least six weeks. We narratively synthesized data on functional outcomes (Timed Up and Go [TUG], Star Excursion Bal-ance Test [SEBT], 30-Second Chair Stand [CS-30], gait speed), physiological measures (VO₂max, lean body mass, bone mineral density) and fall incidence rate ratios (IRR). Results: MulticomponentMultimodal programs surpassed single-component interventions, producing a ~1-second faster TUG, an 8-20% improvement in SEBT reach, and a 55% increase in CS-30 repetitions. Physiologically, VO₂max rose by 154 ml/min, lean body mass by 1.2 kg, and BMD by 0.02 g/cm². The greatest reduction in fall risk was observed in the Tai Ji Quan group (IRR 0.42), compared with 0.60 in the standard multicomponentmultimodal program. Conclusions: Protocol heterogeneity precluded quantitative meta-analysis. Based on limited and heterogeneous data from six RCTs, MULTI programs appear to improve selected functional parameters and reduce fall risk; however, the effectiveness of the single-component UNI program (Tai Ji Quan) was comparable to-or even greater than-that of MULTI in reducing actual falls.The evidence supports implementing multimodal exercise programs-particularly those emphasizing balance and targeted fall-prevention training-to reduce fall risk in older adults.
Keywords: fall risk, Elderly, training programs, Functional training, functional parameters
Received: 27 May 2025; Accepted: 17 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kasicki, Klimek Piskorz, Rydzik, Ambroży, Ceranowicz and Błach. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Krzysztof Kasicki, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Krakow, Poland
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