Do traditional balance training (BT), virtual reality balance training (VR), or combined exercise (MIX) lead to greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility in older men compared to a waitlist control group (CON)?
Sports Health · 2021 · PMID 33583253 · DOI 10.1177/1941738120986803
Combined balance and strength training is most effective for improving fall risk factors in older men, with virtual reality and traditional balance training also showing benefits.
The question
Do traditional balance training (BT), virtual reality balance training (VR), or combined exercise (MIX) lead to greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility in older men compared to a waitlist control group (CON)?
What they tested
The researchers hypothesized that 8 weeks of combined exercise (MIX) would lead to the greatest improvements in falls risk factors, followed by similar improvements after traditional balance training (BT) and virtual reality balance training (VR), relative to the control group (CON).
How they did it
Sixty-four community-dwelling older men (average age 71.8 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: traditional balance training (BT), virtual reality balance training (VR), combined exercise (MIX), or a waitlist control group (CON). The training groups exercised for 40 minutes, 3 times per week, for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes included isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings strength, while secondary outcomes assessed 1-legged stance, tandem stance, timed-up-and-go, and gait speed. One-way analyses of covariance were used to compare groups, with baseline scores as covariates.
What they found
Combined exercise (MIX) led to greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility compared to BT, VR, and CON. Virtual reality balance training (VR) showed better balance and functional mobility than BT and CON. Traditional balance training (BT) also demonstrated better balance and functional mobility compared to CON.
What it means
Combined exercise (MIX) is an effective method for improving falls risk factors, including strength, balance, and functional mobility, among older adults. VR and BT also showed benefits in balance and functional mobility compared to control.
Limitations
This study serves as a preliminary investigation for a larger trial that will be powered to assess actual falls.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Effects of 8 Weeks of Balance Training on Strength, Balance, and Functional Mobility in Older Men |
|---|---|
| Journal | Sports Health |
| Year | 2021 |
| PMID | 33583253 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1177/1941738120986803 ↗ |
| Topic | Muscle, strength & physical function |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Balance and Strength Trainer
High-certainty evidence from large Cochrane and WHO meta-analyses shows that exercise programs which challenge balance and are performed at a sufficient dose (roughly 3+ hours per week) reduce the rate of falls in community-dwelling older adults by about 20-24%, with the largest effects from balance-and-functional…
Balance and strength trainers are exercise tools and structured programs that deliver progressive…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Do traditional balance training (BT), virtual reality balance training (VR), or combined exercise (MIX) lead to greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility in older men compared to a waitlist control group (CON)? [Plain-English summary of Sports Health 2021, PMID 33583253, DOI 10.1177/1941738120986803]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d33583253.html@misc{magellan_d33583253,
title = {Do traditional balance training (BT), virtual reality balance training (VR), or combined exercise (MIX) lead to greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility in older men compared to a waitlist control group (CON)?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d33583253.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 33583253; DOI 10.1177/1941738120986803; Sports Health 2021. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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