The Effect of Movement-Based Interventions on Balance and Gait in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Soltani, Fateme; Ebrahimi, Ebrahim; Nourbakhsh, Seyed Alihossein

doi:10.48311/ijmpp.2026.119765.82920

The Effect of Movement-Based Interventions on Balance and Gait in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Document Type : Systematic Review

Authors

Fateme Soltani ¹

Ebrahim Ebrahimi ²

Seyed Alihossein Nourbakhsh ³

¹ Department of Corrective Exercise & Sport Injury, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

³ Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.

10.48311/ijmpp.2026.119765.82920

Abstract

Aims: This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of movement-based interventions on balance and walking ability in older adults. Method and Materials: This systematic review followed the PRISMA in Exercise, Rehabilitation, Sport Medicine and Sports Science guidelines and searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed original articles from each database's inception through April 2026, using targeted keywords. Google Scholar was also consulted to identify any additional relevant sources. Study quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Findings: From a total of 311 records, five randomized controlled trials — published between 2009 and 2025 — fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The interventions lasted between eight and sixteen weeks. Movement-based programs showed improvements in balance, reflected in better One-Leg Stance (OLS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores, as well as enhanced gait performance, as indicated by Timed Up and Go (TUG) test results and the 6minute walk tes. Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review suggest that movement-based interventions may be instrumental in improving balance and gait in older adults. Upcoming research should focus on large-scale, well-structured randomized controlled trials that employ standardized protocols to improve the consistency and comparability of results.

Keywords

Elderly

Balance

Gait

Subjects