Table 2 Intervention characteristics of the included studies per sub analysis

Fiatarone (1994) [29]

Progressive resistance exercise training of hip and knee extensors

10 weeks, 3x p/w; 45 min.

80 % of 1 RM

0.51 (0.20)

Stopwatch: 6.1-m course

97 %

Liu-Ambrose (2004) [31]

Progressive high- intensity resistance training initially set at 50–60 % of 1RM (two sets of 10–15 repetitions) progressing to 75-85 % of 1 RM (two sets of 6–8 repetitions)

13 weeks, 2x p/w 50 min.

Progressing from 50-60 % to 75–85 % of 1RM

1.02 (0.25)

Stopwatch: 5-m

85,4 % interv.

78.8 % control

Lustosa (2011) [36]

Supervised lower limbs exercises with open chain ankle weights exercises and closed chain body weight exercises

10 weeks, 3x p/w, 60 min.

50-70 % of 1 RM

1.24 (0.14)

Stopwatch: 10-m (accelerated)

-

Persch (2009) [35]

Supervised progressive lower limb strength training

12 weeks, 3x p/w, (estimated at 50 min.)

10-12 maximal reps.

1.23 (0.07)

6-camera motion analysis system (Vicon)

93 %

Cress (1999) [34]

Supervised combined endurance and strength training

6 months, 3x p/w for 60 min.

75-80 % intensity (1 RM and HRR)

1.46 (0.20)

Stopwatch: 20-m course

80.5 %

Freiberger (2012) [32]

1)(SB)Strength and balance group: Progressive upper and lower body strength, balance -, and motor coordination training

16 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min.

Progressive exertion according BORG scale (not specified)

0.95 (0.22)

Stopwatch: 8-m course (accelerated)

83 % attended ≥ 24 of 32 sessions

Yang (2011)

Personalized home balance and strength exercise program (Based on Otago Exercise Program)

6 months, 5x p/w for +/− 20 min. and daily graduated walking program

Progressive adjustments at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the baseline

1.02 (0.26)

Stopwatch: 6-m (accelerated)

44.1 % 5x p/w

39 % 3-4x p/w

13.6 % <2x p/w

Arai (2007) [37]

Supervised progressive resistance training and balance training according to ACSM guidelines

3 months, 2x p/w for 90 min.

65-75 % of 1 RM, 10–15 reps.

1.28 (0.24)

Stopwatch: 10-m (accelerated)

-

Gine-Garriga (2010) [38]

Overload functional circuit training focused at functional balance and lower body strength

12 weeks, 2x p/w; 45 min.

Strength training at perceived exertion of 12–14 on the BORG scale increasing from 6–15 reps. Increasing difficulty in balance exercise

0.82 (0.04)

Stopwatch: 8-m couse (accelerated)

90 % interv.

76 % control

Baker (2007) [40]

Supervised exercise: high-intensity progressive resistance training 3 days per week, moderate-intensity aerobic training 2 days per week, and progressive balance training 1 day per week

10 weeks, 3 to 4 h per week divided over 3 days

80 % of 1RM. Aerobic training: rating of perceived exertion 11 to 14 (20) on the BORG scale

1.23 (0.28)

Ultrasonic transmitter/ receiver over 2-m

90 % (excluding dropouts)

Barnett (2003) [39]

Supervised exercise consisting of balance, coordination, endurance and strength training + home exercise program based on class content

4 periods over 1 year 1x p/w; 60 min. (37 lessons)

Complexity, speed and resistance were steadily increased over de 4 periods

0.95 (0.30)

Stopwatch: 6-m course

33.7 % attended ≥ 30 of 37 sessions

Freiberger (2012) [32]

2)(FG)Fitness Group; Strength-, balance -and endurance training

16 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min.

Progressive in duration and exertion according BORG scale (not specified)

0.98 (0.18)

Stopwatch: 8-m course (accelerated)

83 % attended ≥ 24 of 32 sessions

Freiberger (2007) [30]

Fitness intervention: group and home-based strength, flexibility-, balance and motor coordination-, and endurance training

16 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min.

Not described

1.40 (0.30)

Stopwatch: 8-m (accelerated)

84 %

Doi (2013) [41]

Supervised multicomponent exercise including aerobic exercise, balance-, strength- and gait training

6 months, 2x p/w for 90 min.

Aerobic exercise and gait-training at 60 % max HR.

1.46 (0.20)

Tri-axial accelerometer: 5-m (accelerated)

86.9 %

Freiberger (2012) [32]

3)(MG)Multifaceted group: Strength and balance, cognition training and fall risk education

16 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min.

Progressive exertion according BORG scale (not specified)

0.98 (0.20)

Stopwatch: 8-m course (accelerated)

83 % attended ≥ 24 of 32 sessions

Kim (2011) [42]

Weight bearing exercise, chair exercise, resistance band exercise, ball exercise, walking ability training

3 months, 2x p/w 60 min.

Not described

1.10 (0.30)

Stopwatch: ?

77,4 % (≥15 of 24 sessions)

Freiberger (2007) [30]

Supervised Psychomotor intervention: strength-, balance-, motor coordination-, competence-, and perceptual training

16 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min.

Not described

1.40 (0.30)

Stopwatch: 8-m (accelerated)

84 %

Lazowski (1999) [28]

Supervised multicomponent; strength, balance, flexibility, mobility and function

4 months, 3x p/w 45 min.

Self-paced progressive resistance

0.69 (0.28)

Stopwatch: 7-m (accelerated)

85-87 % interv.

79 % control

Hartmann (2009) [43]

Aerobic exercises, progressive resistance strength training and stretching exercises + additional foot gymnastic exercises at the end of the training session and a 10-min foot gymnastics home-program daily

12 weeks, 2x p/w supervised 50 min. + 10 min. daily at home

Resistance training 2–3 sets of 12 reps. at an intensity of ‘hard; to ‘very hard’(16–18) on the BORG scale

1.33 (0.19)

DynaPort1MiniMod; tri-axial accelerometer system over 24-m

All subjects completed 24 sessions within 16 weeks

Trombetti (2010) [44]

Supervised progressive multi-task exercises, rhythmic walking

6 months, 1x p/w for 60 min.

Progressing difficulty of exercises

1.04 (0.19)

GAITRite:10-m long electronic gait mat

78 %

Granacher (2012) [45]

Salsa dance training with a dance partner

8 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min.

Increasing music tempo: 50- > 70 BPM

1.34 (0.20)

GAITRite: 10-m long electronic gait mat

92,5 %

Liu-Ambrose (2004) [31]

Agility training; ball games, relay races, dance movements, and obstacle courses

13 weeks, 2x p/w 50 min.

Not described

1.02 (0.19)

Stopwatch: 5-m

85,4 % interv.

78.8 % control

Kerrigan (2003) [17]

Hip-stretching exercise at home

10 weeks, 2x p/d; 5 min.

4 sets of 30 s.

1.19 (0.18)

6-camera motion analysis system (Vicon)

94 %

Watt (2011) [18]

Daily hip flexor stretching program, which was supervised twice weekly by 2a rehabilitation clinician

10 weeks, 2x p/d 4 min. home program, 2x p/w supervised

2 sets of 60 s.

1.31 (0.25)

10-camera motion analysis system (Vicon 624)

91 %

Watt (2011) [18] Frail Elderly

Daily hip flexor stretching program, which was supervised twice weekly by a rehabilitation clinician

10 weeks, 2x p/d 4 min home program, 2x p/w supervised

2 sets of 60 s.

1.15 (0.2)

10-camera motion analysis system (Vicon 624)

91 %

Wolf (2006) [48]

Tai Chi training supplemented with home- based exercise

48 weeks, 2x p/w; 60–90 min.

Progressive duration of 60–90 min

1.01 (0.48)

Stopwatch: 10-m (accelerated)

-

Halvarsson (2011) [47]

Individually adjusted, progressive and specific balance group training

3 months, 3x p/w; 60 min.

Progressing demands on the postural control system (5 levels)

1.11 (0.24)

GAITRite: 8-m long electronic gait mat

87 %

Granacher (2013) [49]

Core stability training at moderate intensity

9 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min

Progressively, individually increased (lever lengths, ROM, movement velocity, level of stability)

1.41 (0.14)

10-m-long electronic gait mat, GAITRite

92 %

Tiedeman (2013) [50]

Iyengar-style yoga

12 weeks, 2x p/w; 60 min + 2x p/w 10–20 min at home

Gradually increasing difficulty (time, balance) of postures

1.54 (0.23)

Stopwatch: 4-m (accelerated) from SPPB

83 %