The effect of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises on Quality of Life and Fall Risk in the Elderly: A Systematic Review

Ebrahimi, Ebrahim; Nourbakhsh, Seyed Alihossein; Minoonejad, Hooman; Shadi, Elahe

doi:10.48311/ijmpp.2025.116851.82903

The effect of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises on Quality of Life and Fall Risk in the Elderly: A Systematic Review

Document Type : Systematic Review

Authors

Ebrahim Ebrahimi ¹

Seyed Alihossein Nourbakhsh ²

Hooman Minoonejad ¹

Elahe Shadi ³

¹ Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

³ Department of Corrective Exercise and Sport Injuries, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

10.48311/ijmpp.2025.116851.82903

Abstract

Aims: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization exercises on fall risk and quality of life in older adults.
Methods and Materials: A systematic review was conducted under PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, and IranMedex databases for original and peer-reviewed articles using selected keywords from inception to June 2025. Google Scholar was also searched for additional records. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist.
Findings: Out of 147 records, seven quasi-experimental studies published between 2020 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. Intervention durations ranged from six to eight weeks. DNS reduced fall risk, as evidenced by improvements in Timed Up and Go (TUG) test scores and Fall Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I) measures, and yielded improvements in quality of life across validated questionnaires.
Conclusion: This systematic review highlights that DNS exercises may play a crucial role in enhancing QOL and reducing fall risk in older adults. Future studies should prioritize well-designed, large-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized DNS protocols to strengthen the reliability and comparability of findings.

Keywords

Older adults

Fall

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization

Subjects