Use of the Otago Exercise Programme for Fall Prevention in Adults After Stroke: A Best-Evidence Summary for Clinical Nursing Practice.

Authors

Huang Yuqing, Li Yuan, Ye Hongmei, Huang Canrong, Song Yufan, Gong Qin

Published in

Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Volume 58. Issue 6.

Abstract

Falls are common after stroke, but evidence on the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) specifically for post-stroke fall prevention remains limited. This evidence summary aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the best available evidence on the OEP for fall prevention in adults after stroke.
A systematic, implementation-oriented evidence summary guided by the 6S evidence model and the Joanna Briggs Institute evidence appraisal methods.
Two reviewers independently completed study selection, methodological quality appraisal, and evidence extraction. A systematic search of guideline repositories, clinical decision resources, and bibliographic databases was conducted, covering the period from database inception to May 2026. Eligible sources included direct OEP-related studies and relevant stroke rehabilitation or fall-prevention guidance used to inform clinical implementation.
In total, 14 publications were included, and 18 best-evidence statements were generated across 6 domains: fall risk assessment, exercise intervention principles, core OEP components, exercise prescription and implementation, safety management and health education, and intervention effects. Evidence suggests that the OEP may improve balance function, lower-limb muscle strength, mobility, fall-related self-efficacy, activities of daily living, and quality of life in adults after stroke. However, evidence regarding actual fall incidence and fall-related injuries remains insufficient.
The OEP can be integrated as an exercise-based component of comprehensive fall-prevention care for adults after stroke. Implementation should be guided by fall risk assessment, pre-exercise safety screening, individualized exercise prescription, patient and caregiver education, and continuity of care. The findings of this evidence summary provide practical guidance for nurses and rehabilitation professionals implementing OEP-based fall prevention across hospital, community, and home settings.
This evidence summary provides nurses and rehabilitation professionals with a practical, safety-oriented framework for implementing the OEP across hospital, community, and home settings to address post-stroke fall risk.
PROSPERO (CRD420261418397).

PMID:
43016041
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Nov 2026.

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