Reactive Balance Training Targeting Both Slip- and Trip-Induced Falls

Accidental Fall Clinical Trial

Official title:

Reactive Balance Training Targeting Both Slip- and Trip-Induced Falls Among Older Adults: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04308239
• Other study ID #: 18-486
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: March 2020
• Source: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of reactive balance training (RBT) targeting slipping and tripping on laboratory-induced slips and trips. In an effort to build upon prior work, the present study included: 1) a control group receiving an alternative balance training intervention; 2) separate training and assessment sessions; 3) alternative RBT methods that may be more amenable to work outside the lab compared to prior methods, and 4) older adult participants receiving individualized training to reduce drop-out. The investigators hypothesized that slips after RBT would result in improved reactive balance kinematics, and a lower incidence of falls, compared to either initial slips before any intervention or after a control intervention. The investigators also hypothesized that trips after RBT would result in improved reactive balance kinematics, and a lower incidence of falls, compared to either initial trips before any intervention or after a control intervention. Results were intended to contribute to knowledge regarding the efficacy of alternative methods for RBT, and provide additional evidence regarding its efficacy.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 34
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: July 1, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 60 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1) pass a medical history and screening administered by a physician that excluded participants with osteoporosis of the lumbar spine or proximal femur as assessed by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (Lunar iDXA, GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL), or any unstable or progressive medical conditions that could contribute to imbalance or falls

Exclusion Criteria:

1. smoked

2. were in physical therapy

3. had a self-reported fragility fracture within the last 10 years

4. had an acute lower extremity injury within the last 3 months

5. had lower extremity surgery within the last six months

6. had an ankle arthroplasty

7. had a knee or hip arthroplasty within the last 12 months

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Accidental Fall

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Reactive balance training
Participants were exposed to simulated trips and slips under safe, controlled conditions in order to practice their reactive response to these common balance perturbations.
• Otago Balance Training
Balance exercises and strength exercises using ankle weights, and were progressively increased as performance improved by increasing ankle weights or the difficulty of the balance exercises (e.g., not holding onto a wall or support).

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Virginia Tech - Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering	Blacksburg	Virginia

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Peak Slip Speed	highest instantaneous speed of slipping foot during actual slip	during week 1, before the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Primary	Peak Slip Speed	highest instantaneous speed of slipping foot during actual slip	during week 4, after the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Primary	Trunk Angle at Touchdown After Tripping	anterior-posterior trunk angle relative to vertical at instant of touchdown of initial recovery step over tripping obstacle	during week 1, before the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Primary	Trunk Angle at Touchdown After Tripping	anterior-posterior trunk angle relative to vertical at instant of touchdown of initial recovery step over tripping obstacle	during week 4, after the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Slip Distance	distance moved by slipping foot during actual slip	during week 1, before the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Slip Distance	distance moved by slipping foot during actual slip	during week 4, after the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Fall Incidence After a Laboratory-induced Slip	the outcome of each slip was categorized as either a: fall, recovery, or harness-assisted	during week 1, before the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Fall Incidence After a Laboratory-induced Slip	the outcome of each slip was categorized as either a: fall, recovery, or harness-assisted	during week 4, after the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Recovery Step Length After Tripping	anterior-posterior step distance of first step over tripping obstacle	during week 1, before the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Recovery Step Length After Tripping	anterior-posterior step distance of first step over tripping obstacle	during week 4, after the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Fall Incidence After a Laboratory-induced Trip	the outcome of each trip was categorized as a: fall, recovery, or harness-assisted	during week 1, before the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3
Secondary	Fall Incidence After a Laboratory-induced Trip	the outcome of each trip was categorized as a: fall, recovery, or harness-assisted	during week 4, after the intervention that spanned weeks 2 and 3