Hip Muscle Power, Lateral Balance Function, and 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 develop a mechanistically based therapeutic intervention to enhance muscle power, weight-shifting capability, and lateral balance function through protective stepping to prevent falls. 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. Age-related declines in lateral balance function result from neuromuscular and biomechanical limitations in hip abductor-adductor muscle power generation. This study will test whether these impairments can be improved with high-velocity hip muscle resistance power training that will be more effective than conventional resistance strength training.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03731572

Run by

University of Maryland, Baltimore

People needed

97

Starts

2019-09-16

Expected to finish

2026-01-10

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-26

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

• 65 years of age or older
• Functionally independent
• Living in the community
• Generally healthy

You may not qualify if…

• Cognitive impairment (Mini Mental Score Exam less than 24)
• Sedative use
• Non-ambulatory
• Any clinically significant musculoskeletal impairment
• Any clinically significant neurological impairment
• Any clinically significant cardiopulmonary impairment
• Any clinically significant metabolic impairment
• Any general medical problem that will interfere with testing or training
• Diabetes, renal, or liver disease by identified by routine chemistry

Where it is running

• VA Maryland Health Care System — Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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