Reactive Balance Training for Fall Prevention

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · Dec 18, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a type of training designed to help people improve their balance and reduce the risk of falls. Researchers will compare three different devices that create slips and trips to see which one works best in helping healthy young adults, older adults, and individuals who have had a stroke. The hope is that by practicing with these devices, participants can learn to control their balance better and feel more secure while moving around.

To be eligible for the trial, participants should be aged 18-90 years and generally healthy, without serious medical conditions or recent surgeries. For older adults, they need to be able to walk at least 10 meters, while stroke survivors must have had their stroke more than six months ago. Participants can expect to take part in 30-minute sessions of balance training and will be closely monitored throughout the study. This research aims to find effective ways to keep people safe from falls, which is especially important for maintaining independence as we age.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Healthy Young participants
• • Age group: 18-55 years.
• • Absence of any acute or chronic neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis.
• • No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months)
• • Not on any sedative drugs.
• • Can understand and communicate in English
• • Healthy older adults
• • Age group: 56-90 years.
• • Absence of any acute or chronic neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis.
• • No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months)
• • Not on any sedative drugs.
• • Ability to walk with or without an assistive device for 10 meters
• • Can understand and communicate in English
• • Berg balance scale score \<45/56.
• • Persons with stroke
• • Age group: 18-90 years.
• • Absence of any acute or chronic neurological diagnosis except stroke (self reported)
• • Onset of stroke (\> 6 months)
• • Absence of any cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis.
• • No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months)
• • Not on any sedative drugs.
• • Ability to walk with or without an assistive device for 10 meters
• • Can understand and communicate in English
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Healthy subject:
• • Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%.
• • Body weight more than 250 lbs.
• Healthy Older adults:
• • Individuals with heel bone density with a T-score \< -2, is classified as osteoporotic and will be excluded.
• • Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (Mini-mental State Exam score \< 25/30) will be excluded.
• • Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%.
• • 6 minute walk test. Subjects will also be screened out if on the 6 minute walk test they complain of shortness of breath or uncontrolled pain (\> 3/10 on VAS) or pulse oxygen drops \< 92% or are unable to achieve the age-specified minimal ambulation distance.
• • Body weight more than 250 lbs.
• Persons with stroke:
• • Individuals with heel bone density with a T-score \< -2, is classified as osteoporotic and will be excluded.
• • Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (Mini-mental State Exam score \< 25/30) will be excluded.
• • Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%.
• • 6 minute walk test. Subjects will also be screened out if on the 6 minute walk test they complain of shortness of breath or uncontrolled pain (\> 3/10 on VAS) or pulse oxygen drops \< 92% or are unable to achieve the age-specified minimal ambulation distance.
• • Body weight more than 250 lbs.