• As the proportion of older people increases, falls become a growing problem, and exercise-based fall prevention programs are one of the solutions.

• They can reduce the risk of falls and if done in a group format, they can also be cost-effective.

• A study published in the journal PLOS ONE assessed the effectiveness of three fall prevention programs: a high-level land-based program, a low-level land-based program, and a water-based AI Chi program, in a metropolitan tertiary hospital in Australia.

• Assessments are done at baseline and after 6 months of the program based on -

1. Timed-up-and-go (TUG),

2. Five-times sit-to-stand (5xSTS),

3. Six-minute walk test (6MWT), and

4. Six-meter walk test

• The mean time for TUG was lower both immediately after the program and at follow up while the 5xSTS was significantly reduced only immediately post-program.

• The 6MWT speed was faster only at follow up which may suggest dynamic balance continued to improve even after intervention.

• The TUG & 6MWT were 46.6% slower in the low-level group and 40.49% slower in the AI Chi group when compared to the high-level group.

• The study provides insights into translating recommendations into clinical practices and shines a light on possible barriers and the efficacy of the intervention.

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