Tele-Supervised Dual-Task Balance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk of Falls

Dual-task training combines movement with cognitive tasks to improve gait, balance, and thinking.

This study will compare tele-supervised versus onsite dual-task balance training in older adults at risk of falls.

Sixty participants aged 65+ will be randomly assigned to either remote or face-to-face training for 8 weeks.

Both groups will follow the same program, delivered via video calls or direct supervision.

Outcomes measures will include gait speed, balance, and cognition using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B).

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Telerehabilitation Gait Balance

Age range

65 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

sixty literate, community-dwelling older individuals (male and female) 65 years of age or older
access to the internet at home (for participants in the tele-supervised group)
fall risk defined as a Berg Balance Scale score ˂52 (out of a total of 56 points)
at least one fall during the preceding year
as well as the capacity to walk on one's own without the need for an assistive device.

Exclusion criteria

Participants with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, orthopedic conditions)
or severe sensory impairments that could interfere with participation or balance were excluded.

Treatment and study plan

Dual-task balance training program, delivered either via real-time video conferencing

Other

The tele-supervised group will perform sessions at home through Zoom Video Communications. Training will follow a fixed-priority strategy. Sessions will last 45 minutes. Each session will include: 5 minutes warm-up, 35 minutes dual-task training, and 5 minutes cool-down.

Face to face intervension

Other

The onsite group received the same dual-task balance training program, delivered face-to-face by a trained therapist at the physical therapy clinic, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, with a frequency and duration matched to the tele-supervised group.

Primary outcomes

Balance assessment

Time frame: 8 weeks

The most well-known balance test for evaluating adult balance and fall risk is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The 14 items on the BBS have an ordinal scale of 0 to 4, totaling 56 points; a lower score denotes a higher risk of falling. Minimal function is represented by a score of 0, and maximal function is represented by a score of 4. It takes about twenty minutes to finish. The items are evaluated from the static position with increasing difficulty by decreasing the base of support to dynamic activities (Joa, 2024). BBS is reliable and valid in older individuals (Berg et al., 1992; Şahin et al., 2008).
Gait speed

Time frame: 8 weeks

Gait speed will be measured using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). A 14-meter walkway will be used, and participants will be asked to walk at their typical pace. The time will be recorded throughout the middle 10 meters to account for acceleration and deceleration. Meters per second will be used to measure walking speed; greater numbers denote superior performance. For assessing functional mobility in older persons, the 10MWT is a viable and trustworthy tool (Önal & Kocaman, 2025).
Cognitive function

Time frame: 8 weeks

The Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) assessed divided attention, executive function, cognitive flexibility, and visual attention. As fast as they can, participants will connect 25 circles that alternate between letters and numbers (1-A-2-B); shorter completion times indicate better performance. For older adults, TMT-B is valid and reliable (Tombaugh, 2004; Sánchez-Cubillo et al., 2009).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Nadia M Radwan, PHD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+966561728094

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Tele-Supervised Dual-Task Balance Training on Gait, Balance, and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk of Falls

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Apr 29, 2026
Registry last updated: Apr 29, 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.

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

Not Yet Recruiting