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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00187317

Evaluation of a Balance-recovery Specific Falls Prevention Exercise Program

This study aims to investigate the potential to train compensatory stepping and grasping reactions for the prevention of falls.

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Key information

Conditions

Accidental Falls Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

64 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Centre for Studies in Aging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada

About this study

Physical activity and exercise have been shown to prevent falling in older adults, although the exact mechanisms by which exercise prevents falls is unclear. Compensatory stepping and grasping reactions are frequently used to prevent a fall to the ground following a loss of balance. Age-related impairment in these reactions may be related to an increased risk of falling. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate means for reversing age-related impairment in compensatory stepping and grasping reactions. A training program involving perturbation-evoked reactions will be evaluated.

Comparison(s): Balance recovery ability before and after a 6-week training program will be assessed. Performance of the training group will be compared to a control group not receiving stepping and grasping training.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Community dwelling
  • History of falls (at least 1 fall in the past 12 months) or poor balance
  • Functional mobility (no dependence on mobility aids)

Exclusion criteria

  • Neurological or musculoskeletal disorder
  • Cognitive disorder (e.g. dementia)
  • Osteoporosis

Treatment and study plan

Balance training (exercise)

Behavioral

Perturbation-based balance training. 30-minute sessions three times per week for six weeks.

Flexibility and relaxation exercise

Other

30-minute sessions, three times per week for six weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Ability to recover balance by stepping and grasping

    Time frame: Before and after 6-week intervention

Secondary outcomes

  1. Fall frequency; clinical measures related to balance and fall risk (e.g. FallScreen, Community Balance and Mobility Scale, balance confidence)

    Time frame: One year post-intervention

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Registry information

Official study title

Development and Evaluation of a Perturbation-based Balance-training Program for Older Adults

Important dates

Study start
2005
Primary completion
2007
Study completion
2008
First posted
Sep 16, 2005
Registry last updated
Apr 2, 2010

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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