Exercise games improved some strength and balance tests in older adults
A trial review favored exergaming over conventional therapies on selected performance tests, but the abstract does not report a result for fear of falling.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In healthy older people, exercise games showed advantages over conventional therapies on several strength and balance performance tests. The findings concern test performance; they do not establish that participants fell less often. Fear of falling was part of the research question, but its result is not given in the abstract.
This abstract-based summary cannot assess how large the overall benefits were or how long they lasted. The abstract provides subgroup effect sizes but omits pooled sizes for the main tests.
What researchers found
Timed up-and-go test performance
Versus conventional therapies in healthy older adults; statistically significant, but the pooled effect size and assessment timing were not reported.
What improved
The reported advantages included handgrip strength, chair-stand performance and timed mobility tests. These are specific performance measures in the included trials, so the results should be read as changes in those measured abilities.
Why subgroup results need care
The authors also explored differences by gaming equipment and training schedules. Significant findings within selected subgroups do not, by themselves, show that one schedule or type of game is better than another.
The original publication
Comparative effects of EXG and conventional therapies on muscle strength and balance in older people: A meta-analysis and meta-regression.
Hernandez-Martinez J, Vasquez-Carrasco E, Cid-Calfucura I et al.
Exp Gerontol · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41666963
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.