View clinical trials related to Accidental Falls.
Filter by:The proposed project is a prospective experimental Randomized Control Trial study design. Independent old adults (age 70 years old and older) who do not suffer from balance problems willing to participate in the study will be tested before and after Peturbation balance training during walking to explore whether there are differences in balance control and balance reactions as a result of training.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the evolution 6 months after a fall occurring at home in people over 75 equipped or non-equipped with a precocious detection device. The possibility to establish a relation between the alert emitted by the device, the time separating the fall from the arrival at hospital and the potential consequences for the persons will be analyzed with the greatest accuracy. Besides, the sequences of intervention of the different operators will be described with precision. 200 persons living at home in the ESSONNE(France)and having fallen at least one time during the previous 3 months will be included in the study and two groups of 100 will be constituted randomly after having signed a written consent. Of the 2 groups, one will be constituted with persons equipped with a precocious fall detection device named Vigi'Fall® , the second being non-equipped. After a first visit checking that the inclusion criteria are abide by and the installation of the device in the persons designated randomly for being equipped, a second visit will be carried out after 10 months in order to know the evolution, i.e. if the persons are still alive, living at home or having left for admission in an institution (hospital, nursing home, retirement home...). By a detailed comparison between the 2 groups, it will be possible to evaluate the potential interest of having been equipped or non-equipped with a precocious fall detection device. Hence, a change in practices may lead to a prevision of elderly persons likely to benefit of a precocious detection device and to the development of prevention in hospital geriatric departments, geriatric care networks, emergency departments and local services for the elderly and disabled. Another possible gain of the study is to sensitize the medical, paramedical and social teams to the usefulness of precocious detection devices in elderly subjects at risk for falls.
In the past two decades, the role of vitamin D has extended beyond bone health to encompass a wide range of biological activities important to physical function in older adults. A growing body of evidence now shows that circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels < 75 nmol/L (< 30 ng/mL)) are associated with physical impairments such as reduced walking speed and impaired balance as well as falls. Older adults are at risk for low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D because of reduced exposure to ultraviolet B radiation, reduced efficiency of previtamin D synthesis in the skin, and low dietary intake. Although data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2000-2004 indicate that frank vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L [10 ng/mL]) is rare in the U.S. (5% or less), vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25(OH)D < 75 nmol/L [30 ng/mL]) is prevalent (~75%) among older adults. Older home-bound adults are a vulnerable subgroup of older adults for poor dietary intake and nutritional health, nutrition-related health conditions, and functional decline and disability. The primary goal of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of a partnership with Senior Services of Forsyth County to address vitamin D insufficiency in home-bound older adults receiving home-delivered meals. A secondary goal is to obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation on improving vitamin D levels and reducing falls.
Vestibular dysfunction is a known contributor to imbalance and fall risk, and may be a precursor to the frailty phenotype seen in the elderly population. A recent study found that vestibular dysfunction is common in the US population, and that the prevalence of this impairment increases steeply with age. However, it is unknown whether the aging process has global effects on the vestibular end-organ or whether specific structures, e.g. the semicircular canals or the otoliths, are selectively impaired. Moreover, the clinical implications of specific deficits of the vestibular end-organ are unclear. As such, the aims of this proposed research are: 1) to evaluate whether the normative aging process is predominantly associated with dysfunction of the semicircular canals (as measured by caloric and angular vestibulo-ocular reflex testing) or of the otoliths (as measured by vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing); 2) to determine if there are any characteristic clinical features associated with the subtypes of vestibular dysfunction; and 3) to assess whether dysfunction of the semicircular canals or of the otoliths is associated with a higher risk of frailty and falls. The investigators plan to pursue these aims through a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study of a group of individuals age 70 and above. Vestibular physiologic tests will be administered to all study participants, and test results will be correlated with baseline clinical symptoms and frailty status as well as prospective one-year fall risk. A greater understanding of vestibular physiologic deficits and clinical implications in older individuals can inform the development of rational vestibular rehabilitation strategies that may more effectively mitigate the frailty phenotype and reduce fall risk.
Background: The elderly population in western countries and in Israel is constantly growing. Falls are one of the common problems among this population. Thus there is a need for falls prevention exercise program to be offered in the different settings elderly reside. Most methods for physical exercise are dedicated to muscle strengthening and improving balance by strengthening external muscles. Pilatis exercise program focuses mainly on strengthening the in-depth muscles. The advantage of this method is in its simplicity and availability. This method is suitable also for special populations as patients in acute hospitalization. In this study, the investigators will evaluate if the pilatis exercise can improve balance of elderly population. Physical exercise usually improves the mood. Like any physical exercise, Pilatis exercise has a mental advantage, therefore, this study will also examine if pilatis exercise can improve quality of life of elderly population. Working hypothesis and aims: Pilatis exercise will improve balance and stability measurements, and quality of life among elderly population. Methods: Randomized, prospective study among elderly patients aged 65 and above belonging to Clalit Health Services primary care clinic . Participants of the intervention and control group will receive a brochure that will include nutrition and healthy life style recommendations. Intervention group: will receive 12 weeks of pilatis exercise 3 times a week. The control group will be offered the same intervention at the end of the study period. Balance evaluation will be performed using the: Tinetti Balance Gait Scale, Berg Balance Scale, Multidirectional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go, Step execution test. The SF-36 questionnaire will be use to evaluate quality of life. Importance: This study will examine the influence of pilatis exercise on balance among the elderly. If findings will determine that pilatis does improve balance in the elderly, the investigators can further examine pilatis's influence on falls prevention, and minimizing falls damages. Probable implications to the welfare and health of the aged population: Improving balance, falls preventing and minimizing falls damages among elderly; improvement in elderly quality of life.
Falls and their consequences are among the major problems in the medical care of older individuals. The long-term goal of this research is to establish the efficacy of a scientifically grounded and mechanism-based therapeutic intervention for improving balance function and preventing falls in older people. When human balance is challenged, protective stepping is a vital strategy for preventing a fall during activities of daily life. Many older people at risk for falls have particular difficulties with successfully stepping sideways as a protective response to loss of balance in the lateral direction. We propose that age-related declines in lateral balance function through impaired protective stepping that precipitates falls, result from neuromechanical (NM) limitations in hip abductor-adductor (AB-AD) muscle strength (torque and power). Moreover, we hypothesize that these functional and NM impairments are reversible with combined high intensity induced step training (IST) and muscle strengthening.
The study aims to assess the effect on functional balance of Otago exercise performed as home exercise versus group exercise. The investigators hypothesize that Otago exercise is more effective performed as group exercise than home exercise.
The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a regular walking program (which inevitably involves human interaction) compared to a usual care condition and to a human interaction condition (without the extra walking program) in individuals residing in Long-Term Care (LTC). Outcomes of interest include: balance, strength, mobility, endurance, walking distance; rate and severity of falls; activities of daily living; mood and behaviour. It is hypothesized that participants taking part in the walking program will demonstrate maximal benefits compared to the no treatment control group (usual care) and the participants who will only receive social interaction. It is expected that benefits of the walking program will include decreased fall rates, and improved balance, endurance, strength, mood, behaviour, activities of daily living and quality of life indices. Given research findings that the addition of pleasant activities improves resident mood (Teri et al, 1997; 2003), it is expected that participants in the social interaction only group will demonstrate improvements in mood and other indices of quality of life.
Goals and future prospects: 1. To finish the survey of the high risk factor ratios and high incidence rates associated with falls among inpatient fallers. 2. To investigate the risk factors associated with falls and the consequential analysis related to falls among inpatient fallers. 3. A good precautionary measure of falls will reduce damages and injuries for the fallers, especially inpatients welfare. Our accomplishments of this research proposal will provide sufficient information and reference for the precautionary strategies associated with fall incidents. More importantly, the experiences and results will be further explored and shared among all other hospitals.
The study aims to assess whether type of footwear worn changes the balance, mobility and confidence of older inpatients and consequently may affect their falls risk whilst in hospital. The investigators hope to identify which footwear type is most beneficial to patients in the ward environment.