• Radhika Patil, Kirsti Uusi-Rasi, Kari Tokola, Saija Karinkanta, Pekka Kannus, and Harri Sievänen.
• UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
• J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015 Jul 1;63(7):1306-13.

ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of multimodal supervised exercise on physical functioning, falls, and related injuries in older women.DesignTwo-year randomized controlled trial.SettingTampere, Finland.ParticipantsWomen aged 70 to 80 who had fallen in the previous year (n = 409).InterventionParticipants were randomly assigned to an exercise or control group (ClinicalTrial.gov NCT00986466). Exercisers participated in group exercise classes twice a week for 12 months and once a week for the subsequent 12 months and home exercises. Controls maintained their current physical activity.MeasurementsPhysical functioning assessed at baseline and at 6-month intervals during the intervention. Falls and related injuries monitored with fall diaries.ResultsIntention-to-treat analyses showed that exercise led to significant improvements in physical functioning. Leg strength differed significantly between the groups (mean change: 14.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.0 to 20.2 in exercisers; 1.6%, 95% CI = -4.5 to 7.7 in controls; P < .001). Chair stand time also differed significantly between groups (7.4%, 95% CI 3.8 to 10.8% in exercisers; 2.4%, 95% CI = -1.6 to 6.2) in controls; P = .02). Between-group differences were significant for fast walking speed (P = .003) and probability of completing the backward walking test (P < .001), favoring exercisers. Timed Up-and-Go and grip strength did not differ between groups. There was no difference in the total falls incidence rate ratio (IRR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.79 to 1.26), but exercisers were less likely to have medically attended injurious falls (IRR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.27 to 0.78; P = .004).ConclusionTwenty-four months of multimodal exercise enhanced physical functioning in women aged 70 to 80 with a history of falls. Although the total number of falls was not lower than in controls, the rate of medically attended injurious falls was more than 50% lower.© 2015, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2015, The American Geriatrics Society.

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