Intervention to Enhance Lateral Balance Function and Prevent Falls in Aging

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Accidental Falls

In brief

Falls and their consequences are among the major problems in the medical care of older individuals. The long-term goal of this research is to establish the efficacy of a scientifically grounded and mechanism-based therapeutic intervention for improving balance function and preventing falls in older people. When human balance is challenged, protective stepping is a vital strategy for preventing a fall during activities of daily life. Many older people at risk for falls have particular difficulties with successfully stepping sideways as a protective response to loss of balance in the lateral direction. We propose that age-related declines in lateral balance function through impaired protective stepping that precipitates falls, result from neuromechanical (NM) limitations in hip abductor-adductor (AB-AD) muscle strength (torque and power). Moreover, we hypothesize that these functional and NM impairments are reversible with combined high intensity induced step training (IST) and muscle strengthening.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01370174

Run by

University of Maryland, Baltimore

People needed

102

Starts

2012-01-25

Expected to finish

2017-02-24

Last updated by the study team

2021-10-05

Who can join

Age: 65 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 65 years of age or older
• Body Mass Index in range of 18.5 to 30

You may not qualify if…

• Timed -Up-and-Go faster than 12 seconds (very low fall risk)
• Persons advised by their doctor not to exercise
• Evidence of any medical condition as determined by physician or results of blood test that would lead to increased risk of accident, injury or illness due to any aspect of proposed tests and interventions, including resistance training
• Persons with history of brain, nerve or muscle disorder including Parkinson's disease, stroke, peripheral neuropathy or myopathy
• Persons with reported hip or knee joint replacement in past 6 months
• Persons with significant foot deformities or amputation as determined by a qualified medical professional
• Persons with sedative medications including hypnotics, anxiolytic, opioids, neuroleptics, or sedating antidepressants
• Persons using medications that pose a significant bleeding risks as determined by a qualified medical professional
• Any significant functional limitation as determined by a score of zero on any of the six daily tasks of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) that enable independent living in the community. The six functional items used are: A. Telephone, B. Shopping, C. Food Preparation, D. Housekeeping, E. Laundry, and F. Transportation
• Non-ambulatory (unable to walk)
• Persons using a gait device at all times in home environment
• Cognitive impairment defined as Mini-Mental State Exam score <24
• Persons with uncorrected vision limiting visual function or eye surgery in ast 6 months
• Persons with uncorrected hearing impairment limiting daily activities or communication as determined by a qualified medical professional
• Persons with major depression (Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression Survey score >16)

Where it is running

• PTRS Research Lab — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• VA Maryland Health Care System — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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