Background: Balance impairment causes frequent falls in older adults, and preventing falls remains challenging. Dual-task (DT) training reduces falls by improving balance, but the precise theory is not fully understood. This review aims to explore the theories underlying the effectiveness of DT in improving balance and reducing falls in older adults. Methods: Eleven electronic databases were searched from database inception to June 2022. Two reviewers independently performed study screening and data extraction. The risk of bias (RoB) in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration RoB 2 tool. Results: The searches yielded 1478 citations, of which 30 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Twenty-two of the 30 included studies utilized the motor-cognitive type of DT for training, while six used motor-motor and two utilized cognitive–cognitive DT. The included studies reported 20 different theories to explain the effectiveness of DT for improving balance and reducing falls in older adults. The predominant theory identified in the included studies was attention theory (n = 14). Overall, 26 studies reported improved balance and five studies found a reduction in fall incidence following DT training. Balance and falls improved significantly in 15 motor-cognitive DT intervention studies. Conclusion: Attention shifting between two tasks is reported to occur following DT training. Motor-cognitive DT training improves balance and reduces fall incidence in older adults by shifting attention based on the difficulty and priority of a task from the motor to the cognitive task.

Purpose: To investigate whether dual-task (DT) training improves dynamic balance and functional mobility and reduces falls and determine how DT training dosage, including exercise duration, intensity, challenge and adherence, affects treatment outcomes in older adults. Methods: Databases were searched until May 2025. Methodology, risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane risk of bias and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tools, respectively. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB), and functional mobility using Timed Up and Go (TUG), and falls assessed the frequency of fall. Results: Forty-four studies involving 2782 older adults were included. The mean PEDro score was 6.1, 58% of studies were found to have low risk of bias, and evidence quality ranged from very low to moderate. Meta-analysis indicated that DT exercise significantly improves dynamic balance and functional mobility, and reduces fall frequency. Meta-regression revealed that dynamic balance improved with 95% adherence to 30 min of moderately challenging and moderate-intensity DT training three times per week for four weeks. Functional mobility improved with 95% adherence to 50 min of mildly challenging and moderate-intensity DT training three times per week for 13 weeks. Conclusion: DT training improved dynamic balance and functional mobility and reduced falls. The recommended dosages may elicit optimal outcomes. Additional meta-regression analyses are needed to determine the impact of DT training dosage on falls.

Background Falls are common causes of disability, reduced disability-adjusted life years and death in older adults. Balance deficits and cognitive impairment are common causes of falls. Dual-task training is a new strategy that can potentially improve balance and cognitive function, leading to decreased falls. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of self-administered dual-task (sDT) training to improve balance and prevent falls is not known. We developed sDT training combining physical and cognitive tasks to improve balance and reduce falls. The proposed randomised controlled trial (RCT) with economic evaluation is to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the sDT compared with self-administered single-task training (sST) in this population. Methods and analysis In this RCT, we will recruit 190 community-dwelling older adults with a history of at least one fall over the last 6 months from 11 elderly centres. The older adults will be randomly assigned to the sDT (n=95) and sST groups (n=95). Each group will be offered in six training workshops to teach the participants either sDT or sST depending on the group allocation. Each workshop will last an hour and will be held once every 2 weeks for 3 months. Besides, the participants will be instructed to repeat the exercises at home two times weekly for 3 months. Following the intervention phase, the participants will continue unsupervised home-based exercises for 6 months. Assessments will be performed before, after and 6 months after completing the intervention. A fall calendar and cost diary will be provided to each older adult to record the number of falls and fall-related costs during and after the intervention to assess fall incidence and cost-effectiveness. Effectiveness will be assessed using a negative binomial regression model following the intention-to-treat principle for falls and a linear mixed model for the additional measure and cost-effectiveness using a Markov model. Ethics and dissemination This study has ethical approval from the PolyU Institutional Review Board for conducting research on human subjects (Ref: HSEARS20210322005). The results will be disseminated through seminars for individuals and health practitioners, international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration number NCT05533333.

Background: Cervical cancer, albeit preventable, is the second-most deadly gynecological cancer in developing nations. Little is known about cervical cancer among Bangladeshi women. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of cervical cancer screening and demographic correlates to identify potential variabilities in screening rates among different demographic groups and regions. Methods: This study used secondary data from the WHO STEPS 2018 Survey. We used Bayesian regression to perform the bivariate analyses between the outcome and each explanatory factor, as it generates more acceptable results and improves parameter estimates. The top-ranked socio-demographic factors were identified using a two-step cluster analysis. This method determines the relevance of predictor variables and automatically establishes the number of clusters. Results: The prevalence of Bangladeshi women who had ever been screened for cervical cancer was 6.2%. In the adjusted model, women with the following socio-demographic factors had a higher likelihood of developing cervical cancer: being 18–29 years old (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 0.24, 15.27) or 45–59 years old (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.22, 6.0), currently married (AOR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.36, 3.70), and employed (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.40, 4.06). Women in the Barisal division were found to have higher odds of being screened for cervical cancer (AOR = 21, 95% CI: 0.66, 121.97). Cluster analysis found residence status predisposes women to cervical cancer screening. Conclusion: There is a significant potential for substantial reductions in the burden of cervical cancer in Bangladesh by strengthening the application of cervical cancer screening. Future studies should examine how socioeconomic status, culture, and healthcare access affect cervical cancer screening trends for different divisions in Bangladesh. An independent national cancer registry is urgently needed to evaluate screening trends and outcomes.

The complete scenario of number and factors of knee injuries among the male footballers is intangible; therefore, it would seem essential to compute the injuries in relation to field condition and to show the nature and type of injuries including the possible risk factors. In a total of 200 of 215 soccer athletes playing at least one year professionally were randomized with the age range 14 - 40 years recruited from different divisional clubs. All information collected through questionnaires from five football clubs who were participating in the tournament from March 2011 to February 2012. In total, from 200 players, 116 of them suffered soft tissue injuries (29 per 100 players) in the knee on average 27 years of age. A higher percentage of injury explored in midfielder 35.5%, and the ligament was the most common 63.8% soft tissue injury. 59% participant noted about lack of a particular exercise regimen for the knee. Poor ground condition significantly associated with the injury (x2= 6.7503, p= 0.034). There was a significant association (OR= 2.745, x2= 11.1048, p= 0.0010) between performing particular exercise (41%) and non-performing (59%); and knee injuries. Most injuries were characteristically mild (58.6%). Majority of injuries occurred in contact (74.1%), during games (44%). The significant relationship found between warm up and knee injury (OR= 2.110, x2= 5.8808, p= 0.0107). Physiotherapy treatment 39.6% was the second choice of management. Our findings revealed that midfielders suffered a greater percentage of knee injuries compared to other positions, with injuries being more predominant during match play.