What are we trying to do?

We are undertaking a systematic review exploring the current evidence for the effectiveness of technology-driven physical activities (exergaming) interventions in preventing falls in older people.

 

 

Why is this important?

Each year approximately one third of older people aged over 65 years living in the community experience a fall resulting in injuries such as bruising, fractures and even death. Falls are also related to poorer health outcomes such as increased risk of mortality and morbidity, fear of falling and anxiety, decreased levels of activity and quality of life, and an increased need for hospitalisation and/or institutionalisation. In addition to sickness burden, this also has a further impact of healthcare costs.

 

Evidence shows that regular exercises with a specific focus on strength and balance training can be effective in preventing falls. These exercises help to promote stability and individual components can be tailored to needs to encourage adherence. However the adoption of physical activity in later life remains a challenge. This may because of decreased motivation or enjoyment, lack of social engagement and/or support, monetary costs, issues related to time, weather, space and/or resources or decreased self-efficacy for exercise.

 

Exergames are technology-driven physical activities such as video game play that require participants to be physically active or exercise. Exergames are driven by physical movements using real-time motion detection and may be delivered via video gaming platforms or within a 2-D/3-D virtual reality (VR) environment. They can also be designed to include therapy-based exercises and can be delivered to individuals/groups across a wide range of settings. Exergames are increasingly being used as a tool in falls prevention and there is a need for a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of this approach in preventing falls and fall-related injuries in older populations.

 

 

How are we doing it?

We are systematically reviewing the evidence on exergaming interventions for preventing falls in adults aged 60 years or older. We are including studies with people living in the community and residential or nursing homes.

 

Full details of the review can be found in the protocol registered on PROSPERO

 

 

Who are we working with?

• NIHR Policy Research Unit Healthy Ageing (HAPRU) (formerly known as the Older People and Frailty Policy Research Unity (OPFPRU))
• University of New South Wales
• Karolinka Institute, Sweden
• ETH Zurich, Switzerland

 

 

More information

 

 

Programme Manager
Gill Rizzello
gill.rizzello@manchester.ac.uk