Improving Balance and Mobility

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Postural Balance, Accidental Falls, Mobility Limitation

In brief

Falls are dangerous leading to injuries and even death. The VA has made fall prevention a priority, but effective programs only reduce falls by 30%. Tai Chi, a standing exercise program, has been effective at improving balance but may not prevent falls. Most falls occur during walking when an individual experiences a slip or a trip. Programs that focus on walking, stepping, and recovery from a slip may be more effective at fall reduction. This study will compare Tai Chi to a novel multimodal balance intervention (MMBI). MMBI focuses on standing balance, walking, stepping, strength training, and recovery from a slip. The Investigators believe that the MMBI program will be more effective than Tai Chi at improving balance and preventing falls in older Veterans and the Investigators will use the results of this study to develop a larger study on fall prevention in older Veterans.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02374463

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

41

Starts

2015-06-01

Expected to finish

2018-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2020-03-27

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

• 65 years of age and older
• Mobility and balance limitations as demonstrated by a self-reported fall within the past year or requiring greater than 8 seconds to complete the 4-square step test

You may not qualify if…

• Cardiovascular Risks: Poorly controlled hypertension (>160/100); Class III or IV congestive heart failure (CHF); or patient report of: symptomatic angina at rest or during exercise, syncope without known resolution of cause, or a significant coronary event (such as a MI) in the past six months
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring home oxygen
• Contraindications to resistance training, including a self-reported history of intracranial or retinal bleeding in the last year or Diabetes with active proliferative retinopathy
• Patient report of significant spinal stenosis that would limit participation in the exercise intervention -Dementia (on medical record review or mini-mental status exam score <24).
• Non-ambulatory mobility status or a transtibial or transfemoral amputation
• Other severe medical illness or condition that would preclude safe participation in the study as determined by the study team

Where it is running

• Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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