Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05890755

Mimicking Slipping Responses Using a Novel Mechanical Perturbation Algorithm

Healthy subjects will be invited to fill out a questionnaire regarding falls and balance skills followed by normal walking trials on a treadmill at 9 different speeds (0.28-1.4 m/s). Key gait parameters for the normative database will be collected. During the perturbation trials, the subjects will walk at a constant speed (1.2 m/s). The treadmill belts are ac, - or decelerated during the perturbations according to three different perturbation algorithms with varying perturbation onset. Movements will be analyzed by 3D motion capture, force plates, surface electromyography and IMU sensors. All methods are non-invasive and commonly used in the field of biomechanics.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Gait, Stumbling Gait Disorders, Neurologic Gait, Perturbation Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Balgrist Campus

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8008, Switzerland

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy subjects aged 18-40 years and 60-80 years
  • Ability to walk at minimum 30 minutes at a regular pace without assistance or breaks
  • Written informed consent as documented by signature (see informed consent form)

Exclusion criteria

  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
  • Current neurological problems affecting walking function and balance
  • Current orthopedic problems affecting upper and lower extremity movements
  • History of alcohol abuse or the intake of psychotropic drugs
  • History of major cardiac condition (e.g., infarction, insufficiency (NYHA II-IV))
  • History of major pulmonary condition (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (GOLD II-IV))
  • Current major depression or psychosis
  • Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia
  • Fever of unknown origin

Treatment and study plan

Mechanical pertubation

Other

Acceleration or deacceleration of one treadmill gait belt.

Primary outcomes

  1. Calculation of Margins of Stability (MoS) in anterior-posterior direction at foot contact

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Difference between base of support and interpolated center of mass (mm), based on 3D motion capture.

  2. Step length at baseline, before (Pre) and after (Recovery step 1-10) perturbation

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

Secondary outcomes

  1. Step width at foot contact of baseline, before (Pre) and Recovery steps 1-10

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

  2. Calculation of Margin of stability medial-lateral direction at foot contact of baseline, before (Pre) and Recovery steps 1-10

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Difference between base of support and interpolated center of mass (mm), based on 3D motion capture.

  3. Maximal trunk velocity during gait cycle at of baseline, before (Pre) and Recovery steps 1-10 to detect fast trunk movement to gain balance

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Optical markers are placed on the upper body of the subjects and will be used for calculation (distance over time) of the trunk velocity.

  4. 3D kinematic gait profiles to analyze detailed movement patterns/strategies

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    The optical markers are placed according to the Plug-in gait marker set in Vicon Nexus (motion capture system). Hip, knee, ankle and trunk angles are calculated from this marker set.

  5. EMG analysis to detect reaction time and activity patterns of different leg muscles

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

  6. Questionnaire regarding the incidence of falls in the last six months

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Contains questions how often und the reason why the subject falls

  7. Activities specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC scale)

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Contains 16 questions rating the balance confidence between 0-100%. 100% means absolutely confident in doing some activity

  8. Questionnaire regarding the perceived intensities of the three perturbation algorithms

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Judging the three pertubation algorithms according to their intensity, inconvenience and how realistic the slipping felt. Scale ranges from 0-10, whereas 10 is the most intense

  9. Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) as a clinical balance test

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Assess the dynamic stability during different walking tasks. In total, 30 points are possible, at 22 points is the cut off score to classify the fall risk in older adults in predicting falls.

  10. A set of kinematic parameters

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Measurement of hip, knee, ankle and spine angles during walking in degrees (°).

  11. A set of kinetic parameters

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Ground reaction forces measured by force plates in Newton (N).

  12. A set of spatiotemporal parameters

    Time frame: Once during visit 1

    Stance time, double stance time in seconds (s).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Zurich

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jun 6, 2023
Registry last updated
Aug 28, 2025

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.