Effects of Task-Specific Step Training on Reactive Balance

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Accidental Fall

In brief

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a novel and pragmatic (i.e., not requiring specialized equipment) task-specific step training regimen that aims to improve reactive balance after tripping. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does this step training regimen improve reactive balance after tripping compared to no training? * How well does this step training regimen improve reactive balance compared to treadmill training, which is a more commonly studied reactive balance training regimen that uses a specialized treadmill. Participants will: * complete step training or treadmill training (or no training if assigned to the control group) twice a week for three weeks * experience a laboratory-induced trip three weeks later to evaluate their reactive balance

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05734443

Run by

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

People needed

30

Starts

2022-11-01

Expected to finish

2023-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-09-24

Who can join

Age: 65 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 65-80 years old
• willing to use wearable sensors for 2-3 weeks (for a separate study)
• no lower limb amputation
• not weigh over 250 pounds
• pass a telephone interview related to cognitive status

You may not qualify if…

• participants must pass a health screening involving a questionnaire that will be reviewed by a health care specialist.
• participants must not have clinical osteoporosis as indicated by a bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra and proximal femur of t<-2.0 as obtained from dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), or a DEXA scan completed within the last year.

Where it is running

• Virginia Tech — Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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