Exercise for Older Women with Polypharmacy
Study finds that exercise can address increased fall risks among older women.
For fitness pros who work with older adults, new research shows that exercise training can address the impact of polypharmacy (5 or more medications) that is linked with poorer functional fitness. Side effects of multiple medications include dizziness, sedation, impaired balance, confusion and delirium that can be mistaken for normal aging or even dementia. These medication interactions can increase fall risks, the leading cause of injury among older adults, according to multiple research studies.
University of Eastern Finland researchers analyzed data from 914 women, median age 76.5 over two years that had either been included in an exercise group or a control group without exercise. Investigators divided participants into six groups based on number of prescriptions. The exercise program included instructor-led exercise twice weekly with Tai Chi on one day and circuit training on the second day.
Study results showed that fitness test results were best among those who took zero to one medication both in the control and exercise group and worst among those who used multiple medications. The lowest risk of fall—29% less than those in the control group—was among women who took multiple medications and participated in exercise
“Our findings suggest that, in order to enhance fall prevention in the elderly population, efforts to increase physical activity should be targeted specifically at those using multiple medications,” says study author Anna-Erika Tamminen, researcher, Kuopio Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Eastern Finland.
The study is reported in Scientific Reports.
References
2025; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-88205-y
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
