Minimizing Fall-Related Injury in Older Adults: a Motor Learning Approach

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Fall Injury, Fall Patients, Mobility Limitation

In brief

Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury and injury-related death among older adults. Despite evidence that falls can be prevented, fall related injuries have not declined over time. Current fall injury prevention techniques targeting mobility and bone strength have merit yet their effectiveness is limited. Indeed, a recent Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute/National Institute on Aging funded pragmatic trial of individualized multifactorial strategy to prevent serious fall injuries in over 5500 seniors revealed no difference in fall injuries between the intervention and standard care arm. The inconclusive results of the investigation may be due in part to focusing on fall prevention rather than mitigation of fall-related impact acceleration and forces - the "fundamental variables" for injury prevention. A fall-related injury occurs when the body hits the ground with force that is greater than tissue strength. Development of innovative approaches that focus on fundamental variables of injury prevention is needed.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05260034

Run by

University of Kansas Medical Center

People needed

33

Starts

2022-07-18

Expected to finish

2024-04-05

Last updated by the study team

2024-11-06

Who can join

Age: 65 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Have balance impairment as indicated by <10s on unipedal stance
• History of fall injury in the last year; or, two more falls in the last year; or, afraid of falling because of problems with balance or walking
• Have no history of tumbling, gymnastic or martial art experience or currently engagement of 150+ minutes/week of vigorour aerobic activity
• No clinical osteoporosis
• DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) determined bone mineral density of the hip of t is greater than or equal to -2.3

You may not qualify if…

• Outside of age range
• Unable to speak or comprehend written/spoken English
• Cognitive impairment as indicated by Saint Louis University Memory Scale (<25)
• Unable to ambulate household distances
• Intact standing balance as indicated by >10s of unipedal stance
• Currently receiving physical therapy
• Presence of clinical osteoporosis
• Uncorrected vision or hearing or vestibular dysfunction
• Major neurological conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson's Disease, vertigo that affect the ability to ambulate or perform daily tasks
• Currently taking medications, including, coumadin, dual oral anticoagulants (apixaban, rivaroxaban), lovenox
• Conditions may lead to (internal) bleeding, such as thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic diathesis

Where it is running

• Emma Eells — Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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