When Dr. Charlotte Eost-Telling and her team at the University of Manchester began their research, they wondered whether something as simple as playing active video games could help keep older adults on their feet. What they found surprised them: exergames reduced fall rates by nearly half.
Falls are a serious concern for people over 60. They can lead to broken bones, hospital stays, and a loss of independence. While regular exercise is known to help prevent falls, many older adults struggle to stick with traditional exercise programs at home. That's where exergames come in. Short for "exercise games," these are active video games that get players moving — think of dance games, balance games on a pressure-sensitive mat, or virtual reality experiences that require physical movement.
The researchers looked at nine randomized controlled trials involving 1,385 adults aged 60 and older. Participants came from community homes, long-term care facilities, and geriatric clinics across multiple countries. The team included collaborators from Neuroscience Research Australia, ETH Zurich in Switzerland, the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and Atlantic Technological University in Ireland.
The results were striking. Older adults who played exergames were 25% less likely to experience any fall at a 12-month follow-up compared to those receiving usual care. When researchers compared exergames to all other control groups combined, participants saw a 47% overall reduction in fall rates. These findings were published in the journal JMIR Aging.
So how do these games help? Exergames use motion sensors, pressure-sensitive step mats, and virtual reality environments to give real-time feedback while players move. They turn exercise into something fun, with achievements to unlock and scores to beat. This gamified approach makes people want to keep playing, which could mean better long-term adherence than a sheet of exercises sitting on a kitchen counter.
Dr. Eost-Telling is quick to point out that exergaming shouldn't replace other proven fall prevention strategies just yet. The research team noted that the studies they reviewed had some differences between them, and there's still limited data on cost-effectiveness and whether exergames reduce serious injuries from falls. They recommend larger, standardized clinical trials before doctors routinely prescribe these games to patients.
Still, for millions of older adults looking for engaging ways to stay active and reduce their fall risk, this research offers a promising glimpse at what the future of balance training might look like.