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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03343769

Study of the Relationship Between the Strength of Ankle Movement Muscles and Postural Parameters in Elderly Fallers: Towards New Strategies for Screening and Management

The quality of life of elderly citizens is to a great extent related to the maintenance of independence. The risk of falling and the loss of autonomy are two frequent problems associated with ageing. Although the impact of falls on functional outcomes and morbi-mortality in the elderly is well-established, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these falls are poorly understood. To better assess the risk of falling, numerous studies have investigated the use of dynamic and static posturography. These studies sought to characterise populations of fallers and non-fallers using parameters from postural analysis. Nonetheless, a new concept may emerge: weakening of the ankle movement muscles may be implicated in the age-related deterioration of posture. Even though it has been shown that this decrease occurs earlier and is more severe in fallers, the direct relationship between the strength of ankle movement muscles and balance parameters in elderly fallers has not yet been established. The existence of such a relationship would make it possible on the one hand to facilitate screening for those with a risk of falling, and on the other hand to enrich our understanding of the pathophysiology of the risk of falling. The perspective would therefore be to propose programmes focused on the strengthening of these deficient muscles.

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Key information

Conditions

Persons Who Have Experienced a Sudden Uncontrolled Fall in the Absence of Outside Factors in the 6 Months Preceding the Consultation

Age range

60 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

CHU Dijon Bourgogne

Dijon, 21000, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Control group:

  • Subjects who have provided written informed consent
  • Subjects with national health insurance cover
  • Subjects aged between 60 and 90 years old
  • Able to understand simple instructions and exercise instructions and to provide informed consent
  • with no diseases that could compromise postural abilities and ankle muscle strength.
  • Subjects who have not experience a sudden uncontrolled fall in the absence of outside factors in the 6 months preceding inclusion.

Patients group

  • Subjects who have provided written informed consent
  • Subjects with national health insurance cover
  • Subjects aged between 60 and 90 years old
  • Able to understand simple instructions and exercise instructions and to provide informed consent
  • Subjects who have experienced at least one sudden uncontrolled fall in the absence of outside factors in the 6 months preceding inclusion.

Exclusion criteria

  • Acute balance disorders (central vestibular syndrome, infection or toxic cause)
  • Chronic vestibular disease with proven clinical repercussions
  • Any severe neuro-orthopedic disease impairing balance as well as physiological impairments due to ageing Any chronic neurological disorder (stroke, Parkinson syndrome…)
  • Any psychiatric disorder able to compromise participation
  • Non-corrected vision disorder
  • Cancer or any progressive disease
  • Treatment with psychotropic agents able to impair vigilance and posture
  • Patients under guardianship
  • Patients with an ADL score <3 (total of 6 points), reflecting a clinically obvious high risk of falling

Treatment and study plan

BERG scale

Other

Complete the BERG balance scale

functional tests

Other

timed up and go, Mini motor test, retropulsion test

Measurement of balance on a force platform

Other

4 trials of 30 seconds x 2 conditions (eyes open; eyes closed)

Measurement of maximal moment of the plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles

Other

5-second repetitions

Measurement of the moment of the plantar flexors and dorsiflexors corresponding to RMS activity during balance measurements

Other

3 10-second repetitions

Primary outcomes

  1. The sum of the moments of strength developed by the plantar flexor and dorsiflexor muscles (i.e. combined moment) in both ankles

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 month

  2. Mean total displacement of the Centre of Pressure in millimetres during the different stabilometry recordings.

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 month

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2016
First posted
Nov 17, 2017
Registry last updated
Feb 4, 2026

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.