Short- and Long-Term Effects of Balance Training on Physical Activity in Older Adults With Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The study included only 2 men, so the results may not apply to men with osteoporosis. Participants were recruited by advertisement, which may attract people who are already interested in training or more physically active than average. Low physical activity was not required for inclusion, and many participants already walked or used Nordic walking, so the sample was not focused only on very inactive people. The main BETA study was designed to reduce fall-related concerns, not to increase habitual physical activity. The original two intervention groups were merged because some participants did not follow the Nordic walking instruction and many in the training group already walked or used Nordic walking. Participants and researchers were not blinded at follow-up, and controls were offered balance training after the study rather than a sham activity. Dropout was substantial, with 53 of 91 participants remaining through the whole study period. The 9-month analysis was not used because all control-group participants lost at that point had daily steps below 5000, which biased the comparison. Accelerometer data at 3 months came from only 50 participants, and the study may have been underpowered to detect differences in sedentary time or moderate to vigorous activity.

Do not conclude that balance training, with or without Nordic walking, increased average physical activity or improved health-related quality of life. The significant short-term result was only for reaching 5000 or more steps/day, the mean step difference was not significant, and the long-term result was not significant.