摘要：Study design: A thematic review.Objectives: To evaluate if physical activity enhances muscle strength, improves balance, and reduces the fallfrequency and the fracture incidence.Background: One of the major medical problems of today is the increasing incidence of fragility fractures.Muscle strength and fall is one of the major determinants of a fracture. If physical activity could increasemuscle strength, improve balance and reduce the fall frequency, then training could be recommended asprevention for fractures.Methods: The review used Medline (Pub Med) and the search words exercise, physical activity, musclestrength, balance, falls, fractures. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were predominantly included,although this not is a systematic review.Results: The evidence that physical activity modifies the risk factors for fall is compelling, although RCT withfractures as end point are lacking. Physical activity is associated with improved muscle strength, co-ordinationand balance. Physical training increases muscle strength also in octogenarians by up to 200%, i.e. a muchmore pronounced effect than the corresponding increase in muscle volume or bone mass. There is alsoevidence that physical activity decreases the actual number of falls. Observational cohort and case-controlstudies imply that physical activity is associated with reduced hip fracture risk. If exercise reduces the numberof vertebral fractures and other fragility fractures are less evaluated.Conclusions: Physical activity in older ages can be recommended to improve muscle strength and balance, toreduce the risk to fall and fractures, although the highest level of evidence - RCT with fracture as endpoint -is lacking.
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