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. 2025 Oct 1;22:16. doi: 10.1186/s11556-025-00383-w

Table 3.

Effectiveness of physical training on balance

Study(Year and location) Study Design Population
Diagnosis
Mean age Intervention parameters
(Intervention and Control Groups)
Duration of intervention Outcome Measures Effect of intervention on Balance

deOliveiraSilva, 2019,

Brazil

[19]

RCT

MCI

AD

MCI:

IG = 71.85 ± 5.69

CG = 78.20 ± 5.26

AD:

IG = 81.22 ± 8.88

CG = 77.54 ± 8.05

IG: Multimodal physical training, including aerobic exercises, strength, balance, and stretching (60 min/session; 2 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: ST_8UG, CoV_8UG, DT_8UG, DTC_8UG Improvement in balance was observed in the IG compared to the CG, with a significant difference in the simple task mobility test (ΔCG: −0.18 ± 0.53; ΔIG: −1.05 ± 0.57; P = 0.03).

Lü, 2016,

China

[21]

RCT MCI

IG = 69.00 ± 3.83

CG = 70.43 ± 5.53

IG: Momentum-based dumbbell training (60 min/session, 3 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: TUG, FR, ABC Significant improvement in balance was noted in the IG as compared to the CG (TUG test: 0.81 s; p-value = 0.043).

Casas-HerreroÁ, 2022,

Spain

[22]

RCT MCI

IG = 84.2 ± 4.8

CG = 84.0 ± 4.8

IG: Vivifrail multicomponent exercise programme (resistance/power, balance, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance exercises) (5 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: SPPB Significant improvement in balance was observed in the IG, with a mean increase of 0.86 points (95% CI 0.32, 1.41; P < 0.01) after 1 month and 1.40 points (95% CI 0.82, 1.98; P < 0.001) after 3 months.

Padala, 2017,

USA

[23]

RCT AD

IG = 72.1 ± 5.3

CG = 73.9 ± 7.1

IG: Wii-Fit exercise program (yoga, strength training, aerobics, balance games) (30 min/session, 5 sessions/week)

CG: Walking program

8 weeks Mobilty Tests: BBS, ABC scale, FES, The IG showed significantly greater improvements in balance compared to the CG, with notable differences in BBS (Δ = 4.8 [3.3–6.2], p < 0.001), ABC scale (Δ = 6.5 [3.6–9.4], p < 0.001), and FES (Δ = − 4.8 [–7.6 to − 2.0], p = 0.002).

Suttanon, 2013,

Thailand

[24]

RCT AD

IG = 83.42 ± 5.10

CG = 80.52 ± 6.01

IG: The Otago Program home based exercise program 6 months

CG: Usual care

24 weeks Mobilty Tests: Falls, FROP-Com falls risk score, FR, Step Test, Timed Chair Stand, TUG, mCTSIB, Limits of stability (LOS), Walking, Step quick turn, Sit to stand Significant improvement in Functional Reach (P = 0.002) in the IG compared to the CG.

Yoon, 2018

Korea

[26]

RCT Cognitive frailty

IG = 73.82 ± 4.37

CG = 74.03 ± 4.27

IG: A high-speed resistance training program. Independent exercise. (60 min/session, 3 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

16 weeks Mobilty Tests: SPPB, TUG, Significant improvements in balance were observed in the IG with better performance in SPPB and TUG (both p < 0.05).

Uysalİ, 2023,

Turkey

[28]

RCT MCI

AG = 73.5 ± 3.21

DG = 74.08 ± 7.67

ADG = 73.25 ± 2.01

CG = 74.08 ± 7.82

Group 1: Aerobic exercise training combined with lower limb strengthening group (AG), (3 sessions/week)

Group 2: Dual-task training combined with lower limb strengthening group (DG), (3 sessions/week)

Group 3: Aerobic exercise training combined with dual-task training and lower limb strengthening group (ADG) (3 sessions/week)

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: TUG, ABC, SLST In all three intervention groups, Significant improvement in balance was observed in all intervention groups (AG, DG, ADG) with the most notable improvements in DG and ADG (p < 0.05).

Kovács, 2013,

Hungary

[31]

RCT CI

IG = 76.39 ± 9.63

CG = 79.29 ± 12.67

IG: The multimodal exercise program twice a week for 12 months

CG: Usual care

12 months Mobilty Tests: POMA-B, POMA-G, POMA-T, TUG, falls. Significant improvement in balance-related items of the POMA-B scale was observed in the IG at both 6 and 12 months (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.002, respectively).

Schwenk, 2016,

USA

[32]

RCT aMCI

IG = 77.8 ± 6.9

CG = 79.0 ± 10.4

IG: Sensor-based balance training program (45 min/session, 2 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

4 weeks Mobilty Tests: Gait speed, eyes open (EO), and eyes closed (EC). Anterior-posterior (AP, cm) sway, medial-lateral (ML, cm) sway, and total sway area (cm2) of the center of mass (CoM), Short-FES-I, Significant reduction in sway (eyes open) in the IG compared to the CG (p = 0.041).

Hauer, 2017

Germany

[34]

RCT CI

IG = 81.4 ± 6.6

CG = 83.3 ± 5.7

IG: Standardized 6-week home training.

CG: Usual care

6 weeks Mobilty Tests: SPPB, POMA test, APAFOP, Sit-to-Stand (STS) Significant improvements in SPPB (total score: p = 0.012; chair rise: p = 0.007; balance: p = 0.066), reduced gait and balance deficits in POMA (total score: p = 0.006; balance: p = 0.034; gait: p = 0.019), and increased physical activity (APAFOP; p = 0.05) in the IG compared to the CG.

Nyman, 2019,

UK

[35]

RCT Dementia

IG = 77.9 ± 8.3

CG = 78.2 ± 7.5

IG: Tai Chi intervention: 3 components: (1) Tai Chi classes, (2) home-based Tai Chi practice, and (3) behaviour change techniques (90 min/session, 1 sessions/week)

CG: No treatment

20 weeks Mobilty Tests: TUG, BBS, Icon-FES, Falls Significant improvement in TUG and BBS scores in the IG compared to the no-treatment group (WMD = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.67, 1.41 for TUG; WMD = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.91, 3.81 for BBS).

LangoniCDS, 2019,

Brazil

[38]

RCT MCI

IG = 72.6 ± 7.8

CG = 71.9 ± 7.9

IG: Twice weekly sessions of group exercises, with volume and intensity regularly adjusted. (60 min/session, 2 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

24 weeks Mobilty Tests: BBS, TUG The IG showed significant improvement in balance, with a mean increase in BBS score from 53 ± 3 to 55.1 ± 1.1 points (P < 0.05).

Yoon, 2017,

Korea

[40]

RCT MCI

HSPT = 75.0 ± 3.46

LSST = 76.0 ± 3.94

CON = 78.0 ± 2.77

Group 1: (HSPT) Elastic bandbased high-speed power training (60 min/session, 2 sessions/week)

Group 2: (LSST) Low-speed strength training (60 min/session, 2 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: SPPB, TUG. Significant improvement in physical function was observed in both HSPT and LSST groups compared to the CG, with increased SPPB scores in the intervention groups.

Ullrich, 2022,

Germany

[41]

RCT CI

IG = 82.2 ± 5.8

CG = 82.4 ± 6.2

IG: Home-based training program (7 sessions/week), a CI-specific, autonomous, home-based strength, balance, and walking training

CG: Usual care

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: SPPB, TUG, LSA-CI, Short FES-I Significant improvement in physical function was observed in both HSPT and LSST groups compared to the CG, with increased SPPB scores in the intervention groups.

Dawson, 2019,

USA

[42]

RCT Dementia

IG = 73.8 ± 8.5

CG = 74.0 ± 10.4

IG: Moderate-intensity home-based functional exercise program, consisting of strength and balance exercises. (2 sessions/week)

CG: Usual care

12 weeks Mobilty Tests: The 30-second chair stand test, m-BBS, The 8-ft walk test, Significant improvement in balance was observed in the IG compared to the CG, with better performance in balance and gait speed tests (t = 4.1, P = 0.001 for balance; t = 2.6, P = 0.02 for gait speed).

ADAlzheimer Disease, ADG Aerobic Exercise Training Combined with Dual-Task Training, AG Aerobic Exercise Group, aMCI Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, CG Control Group, CI Cognitive Impairment, CON Control Grou, CT Cognitive Training, DG Dual-Task Training Group, DTG Dumbbell Training Group, ET Exercise Training, FTE Functional Task Exercise, HSPT High-Speed Power Training, IG Intervention Group, LSST Low-Speed Strength Training, MCI Mild Cognitive Impairment, PACT Physical and Cognitive Training, PT Physical Training, RCT Randomized Controlled Trial, WC Wait-List Control