Abstract:

Fear of falling (FoF) is one of the most important geriatric syndromes related to decreased mobility, loss of independence, poor quality of life and increased fall risk. Programs that use structured exercises have become a non-medicinal approach to enhancing functional fitness and psychological self-confidence in older people. The present paper explores the effect of structured exercise programmes on fear of falling and functional fitness among older adults of the Ujjain region in Madhya Pradesh, India. A narrative synthesis of recent RCTs, systematic reviews and meta-analyses (2020-2026) was carried out. The benefits of multicomponent exercise programs (which emphasise strength, balance, flexibility, and functional exercise) have been consistently shown in significant reductions in fear of falling as well as improvements in functional fitness test scores, such as the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG). Results indicate that structured interventions that take place 2–3 times a week for 8–24 weeks lead to clinically significant improvements in mobility, balance confidence, and psychological well-being. The paper recommends using structured exercise programs for healthy ageing and fall prevention as a part of the community and primary healthcare system in Ujjain.

Keywords:

Fear of falling, structured exercise, functional fitness, older adults, fall prevention, India, multicomponent training

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Methods