Table 1 Description of articles included in the exercises meta-analysis in alphabetical order

Assantachai–Thailand [60]

2003

68.2 ± u.k. (60–u.k.)

1 fall and +

6 months

Patient interrogation

Exercise during the last year

Brauer–Australia [37]

2000

73 ± 5 (65–86)

1 fall and +

6 months

Patient interrogation

Self reported activity level (>1 h/week)

Buatois–France [45]

2006

70 ± 4 (66–74)

1 fall and +

16 months

Patient interrogation

Current physical activities

Chan–Singapore [61]

1997

68.8 ± u.k. (60–90)

1 fall and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

Exercise at least 3 times a week, with each session lasting at 20 min

Covinsky–USA [38]

2001

81.6 ± u.k. (65–u.k.)

1 fall and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

Aerobic activity ≥1 h/week: walking, swimming, golfing, running, aerobics, dancing and bicycling

Faulkner–USA [46]

2007

78 ± 3 (74–85)

2 falls and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

Routine walking: walking for exercise; walking to work, store or church; or walking the dog in the previous week and at least 10 times in the previous 12 months

Herndon–USA [43]

1997

u.k. ± u.k. (65–u.k.)

Min 1 traumatic fall

6 months

Patient interrogation

Current exercise three or more times weekly

Huang–Taiwan [47]

2004

78 ± u.k. (65–u.k.)

1 fall and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

Type of exercise: moderate range

Johnson–Canada [48]

2003

82.4 ± 7 (65–98)

1 fall and +

4 months

Patient interrogation

Regular physical activity

Liu–Canada [39]

1995

83 ± 6 (62–96)

1 fall and +

1 year

Notebook patient

Exercises greater than or equal to once weekly

Lord–Australia [62]

1993

74.6 ± u.k. (65–99)

1 fall and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

3+ h planned exercise a week

Luukinen–Finland [40]

1996

76.1 ± 5 (70–92)

2 falls and +

2 years

Patient interrogation

≥3 h/week of physical exercise

Maki–Canada [41]

1994

83 ± 6 (62–96)

1 fall and +

1 year

Notebook patient

Exercise (20 min or more) more than once per week

Peel–Australia [44]

2006

82.6 ± 7 (65–u.k.)

Min 1 traumatic fall

u.k.

Patient interrogation

Calculations of sufficient physical activity based on minutes per week spent walking, as well as doing moderate and/or vigorous activity in an average week in the last 6 months; sport involvement over the life stages was also recorded

Teno–USA [42]

1990

76.5 ± u.k. (65–99)

2 falls and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

To participate in sport activities

Tinetti–USA [9]

1988

78.5 ± 5 (74–u.k.)

1 fall and +

1 year

Patient interrogation

Weekly walk for exercise + other physical exercise weekly

Toulotte–France [63]

2006

u.k. ± u.k. (60–u.k.)

1 fall and +

2 years

Patient interrogation

Physical activities 2 h/week: walking