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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00714051

Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a fall prevention program for older adults. Participants assigned to the intervention group will train weekly on a special treadmill that will simulate tripping. Patients not assigned to the tripping program will walk on a standard treadmill.

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Key information

Conditions

Accidental Falls

Age range

65 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital

Hines, Illinois, 60141-5000, United States

About this study

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a fall prevention program for older adults. Participants assigned to the intervention group will train weekly on a special treadmill that will simulate tripping. Patients not assigned to the tripping program will walk on a standard treadmill. The training program will last for 4 weeks. Upon completion, participants will complete a test where a trip is simulated. Those assigned to the intervention group will test one additional time as well.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 65-80 yr old,
  • normal reflexes and muscle tone

Exclusion criteria

  • lower extremity fracture or surgery last 5 yrs
  • back surgery or disc herniation last 5 yrs
  • noticeable gait impairment,
  • low back pain,
  • decreased disease-related vision,
  • dizziness,
  • history of heart problems,
  • bone mineral density <.65,
  • mini-mental score <24

Treatment and study plan

fall prevention training

Behavioral

Training on a specialized treadmill that produced trip-simulating perturbations (movements.

Attention Control

Behavioral

Participants walked on a treadmill at a self-selected speed once per week for four weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Who Fell on a Tripping Test

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Participants completed a tripping test upon completion of the 4 weeks training period. Participants walked along a platform while harnessed to an overhead rail. Participants walked at a self-selected pace knowing that they will be tripped but do not know how or when the trip will be induced. The trip is induced by an obstruction that deploys from the floor. A decoy rope was laid across the pathway about 3 meters before the trip to intentionally mislead the participant to expect the trip at that point. This expectation affects gait and response to a trip. The participant was tripped on the 3rd set of 10 walking trials.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Fed

Collaborators

  • University of Illinois at Chicago

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2014
First posted
Jul 14, 2008
Registry last updated
Oct 8, 2014

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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