Effects of augmented reality-based Otago exercise on balance, gait, and physical factors in elderly women to prevent falls: a randomized controlled trial.

Only 30 elderly women were studied, with 10 in each group, so the results are imprecise. The paper does not name a primary outcome, and several balance and strength outcomes were tested, so some significant findings may be chance. Blinding, allocation concealment, dropout handling, and missing data handling are not reported. The self-Otago group received education, printouts, a suggested weekly exercise, and phone follow-up, so the comparison is not a clean test of augmented reality versus no intervention. The study measured balance tests and fall confidence, not actual fall events. Participants were relatively healthy older women with no cardiovascular disease, no visual or hearing impairment including vestibule, no missing limbs, and no bone damage in the past year, so results may not apply to frailer patients. The augmented reality group received the augmented reality component together with Otago exercise, so the contribution of augmented reality alone cannot be separated.

No conflicts of interest were reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content.

Do not conclude that augmented reality alone prevents falls. The AR group received augmented reality plus Otago exercises, the self-Otago group received education, printouts, suggested weekly exercise, and phone follow-up, and the study did not measure actual falls.