Clinical Impact of a Digital Home-based Falls Prevention Program on Elderly People

Launched by SWORD HEALTH, SA · Nov 20, 2018

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether a new home-based exercise program can help prevent falls in older adults. The trial will involve two groups: one group will follow a 12-week exercise program at home with support from a clinical team, while the other group will receive the usual medical care at their local healthcare facility. Researchers believe that the home exercise program will be more effective in reducing the risk of falls compared to standard care.

To join the study, participants need to be at least 65 years old, able to walk 20 meters by themselves or with some support, and be able to understand simple instructions. They should also be at risk for falling again, as defined by a specific test. However, individuals living in nursing homes or with certain health conditions that might interfere with participating in a home exercise program won't be eligible. If someone joins, they can expect regular check-ins with the clinical team to help them stay on track with their exercises and track their progress over the 12 weeks.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients aged over 65 years old
• • 2. Ability to walk at least 20 meters, unaided or with unilateral support
• • 3. Ability to understand motor complex commands
• • 4. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \> 24 points
• • 5. Functional independence for instrumental activities of daily living
• • 6. Risk of recurrent falls, defined as 5xSST score \> 15,00 seconds
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients residing in nursing homes, daycare units or assisted-living facilities
• • 2. Aphasia, dementia or psychiatric comorbidity, significantly interfering with communication or compliance with a home-based exercise program
• • 3. Severe visual our hearing, interfering with communication or with compliance to a home-based exercise program
• • 4. Cardiac, respiratory or other condition incompatible with at least 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity
• • 5. Osteoarticular conditions (e.g. severe osteoarthrosis), which prevent the patient from complying with a home-based exercise program
• • 6. Patients with neurologic conditions (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease)
• • 7. Other medical complications, which prevent the patient from complying with a home-based exercise program
• • 8. Illiteracy