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NCT Number: NCT07167979

Neck Integration and Eye Movement Training for Fall Risk in the Elderly

Age is one of the primary risk factors for falls, with risk increasing as people get older. Research on fall risk and prevention has identified hundreds of contributing factors, showing that falls have complex and multifactorial causes. Risk factors can be categorized as environmental, extrinsic, or intrinsic. Intrinsic factors include physiological aspects-such as reduced lower-limb strength, impaired gait and balance, weaker grip strength, diminished sensory function, and poorer sensorimotor control-as well as psychological aspects, including fear of falling, depression, and cognitive decline. Strongly associated intrinsic risk factors include a history of falls, physical weakness, gait and balance disorders, certain medications, and dizziness. While fixed factors like age and fall history cannot be changed, identifying and targeting modifiable risk factors is crucial for prevention. Among these, gait and balance impairments are considered the most important modifiable intrinsic factors.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Elderly Oculomotor System Proprioception, Postural Balance

Age range

65 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Oculomotor training device

Kaohsiung City, Sanmin District, 807, Taiwan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 65 to 85 years. Able to independently perform mobility necessary for activities of daily living.

No major medical conditions that significantly affect functional capacity.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of central nervous system disorders (e.g., stroke). Severe musculoskeletal or visual injury of the lower limbs within the past three months that prevents participation in assessments.

Cognitive impairment. Current use of antidepressant medications.

Treatment and study plan

Combining neck muscle strengthening with oculomotor saccade tasks.

Behavioral

he exercise program begins at 30% of 1RM, progressing by first increasing repetitions (8-10 up to 8-12) and then intensity (+5% of 1RM). Training sessions include a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of exercise, and a 5-minute cool-down, performed twice per week for 30 minutes per session.

Neck strengthening is performed using the Iron Neck, which provides constant resistance. Exercises include maintaining a neutral neck position, protraction-retraction, left-right rotation, dynamic figure-8 movements, and synchronized 360° head-body rotations. Each exercise consists of two sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 30 seconds rest between repetitions and 1 minute between sets.

After neck training, participants in the intervention group perform oculomotor saccade tasks while maintaining a neutral head position. Five visual targets appear randomly in front of the participant for 1 second each. The task lasts 40 seconds, followed by 1-2 minutes of rest, and is repeated three times.

Neck Strengthening Only

Behavioral

he exercise program begins at 30% of 1RM, progressing by first increasing repetitions (8-10 up to 8-12) and then intensity (+5% of 1RM). Training sessions include a 5-minute warm-up, 20 minutes of exercise, and a 5-minute cool-down, performed twice per week for 30 minutes per session. Neck strengthening is performed using the Iron Neck, which provides constant resistance. Exercises include maintaining a neutral neck position, protraction-retraction, left-right rotation, dynamic figure-8 movements, and synchronized 360° head-body rotations. Each exercise consists of two sets of 8-12 repetitions, with 30 seconds rest between repetitions and 1 minute between sets.

Primary outcomes

  1. Neck range of motion

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

  2. Neck proprioception

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    Laser Joint Position Error Test

  3. Neck position

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    Measurement Method: Craniovertebral Angle

  4. Neck muscle

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    craniocervical flexion test, CCFT

  5. Center of Pressure

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    force plate

  6. Oculomotor

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    tobii eye tracker 5

    :Latency and Accuracy

  7. Dynamic balance

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    y-balance

  8. L/E Muscle strength

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    MicroFET2 MMT

  9. Ankle proprioception

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    Joint Position Reproduction Test Kinesthesia

  10. The Falls Efficacy Scale International

    Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, and at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention.

    The scale scores range from 16 to 64, with higher scores indicating greater severity

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kaohsiung Medical University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigating the Role of Neck Sensorimotor Integration and Eye Movement Training on Postural Control and Fall Risk in the Elderly

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 11, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 11, 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.

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