Exergaming Interventions for Preventing Falls and Injurious Falls in Older People: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exergames, which combine physical exercise with interactive gameplay, are increasingly being incorporated into fall prevention programs for older adults. Gamified elements, such as real-time feedback and progress tracking, may enhance motivation, engagement, and adherence. Although several systematic reviews have examined the effects of exergaming on balance and physical function, fewer have focused specifically on clinically meaningful outcomes, such as falls and injurious falls, or on indicators that may influence real-world adoption of exergames. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of exergaming interventions for preventing falls and injurious falls in people aged ≥60 years and to synthesize evidence on implementation-related outcomes, including adherence, acceptability, concerns about falling, quality of life, adverse events, and cost-effectiveness. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from inception to February 2025 for randomized controlled trials evaluating exergaming interventions in older adult populations across all settings. Outcomes included fall rate, number of fallers and injurious falls, and implementation-related secondary outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2.0, and certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Data were synthesized narratively and, where appropriate, pooled using meta-analysis. RESULTS: Nine studies (N=1385) met the inclusion criteria. Comparator-specific analyses suggested that exergaming may reduce fall rates compared with active intervention comparators, although the magnitude and certainty of effect varied, and substantial heterogeneity was present across analyses. Moderate-certainty evidence also suggested that exergames reduced the number of older adults experiencing one or more falls at 12-month follow-up compared with usual care (risk ratio 0.75, 95% CI 0.61-0.92). Evidence for injurious falls, quality of life, concerns about falling, adherence, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness was limited or inconsistent. When pooled across all control groups, exergaming interventions were associated with a lower overall fall rate than comparator interventions (incidence rate ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.41-0.68), although substantial heterogeneity was present (I²=76%). CONCLUSIONS: Low- to moderate-certainty evidence suggests that exergames may reduce fall rates, particularly in comparisons with active intervention control groups, and may reduce the number of fallers compared with usual care. These findings indicate that exergaming may offer a useful adjunct to established fall prevention strategies for older adults, particularly where sustained engagement with conventional exercise is challenging. However, substantial heterogeneity, modest sample sizes, and limited long-term follow-up reduce confidence in these estimates, and more rigorous, large-scale trials are needed before routine implementation can be recommended. This review extends previous exergaming syntheses by focusing on clinically meaningful outcomes, including falls and injurious falls, while also considering implementation-related factors relevant to real-world uptake.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.