Balance-related interventions applied during hospitalization: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To verify the effectiveness of balance-related interventions on falls, postural control, functionality, quality of life, and length of hospitalization in inpatients.

searches were conducted in Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, up to June 2025. Randomized controlled trials involving hospitalized adults and balance-related interventions, evaluating outcomes of interest were included.

Of 11,064 studies, 12 trials (n = 1,374) were included. Meta-analyses indicated that balance-related interventions had no significant effect on fall rates (risk ratio = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.48, 2.36), postural control (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.57; 95% CI -0.23, 1.36), and length of hospitalization (mean difference = 0.02 days; 95% CI -0.38, 0.51) compared to control interventions. In contrast, balance-related interventions resulted in improvements in quality of life (SMD = 0.34; 95% CI 0.05, 0.64) and function, as measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SMD = 0.70; 95% CI 0.24, 1.17), patient-reported outcome measures (SMD = 0.33; 95% CI 0.08, 0.58), the Timed Up and Go test (SMD = -0.23; 95% CI -0.44, -0.02), and gait velocity (SMD = 0.30; 95% CI 0.03, 0.58).

Balance-related interventions improved function and quality of life but did not reduce fall rates, shorten hospital stay, or enhance postural control.