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Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

NCT number NCT01936922
Other study ID # 1303013747
Secondary ID
Status Completed
Phase Phase 1
First received September 3, 2013
Last updated August 13, 2016
Start date September 2013
Est. completion date November 2014

Study information

Verified date August 2016
Source Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Contact n/a
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority United States: Institutional Review Board
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

A virtual reality device has already been successfully used for improving gait in adults who have neurological conditions. We will evaluate if it is feasible to study the brief use of this device in older adults who have had falls.


Description:

Older adults are at risk for recurrent falls.

This study will involve a single study session (lasting two hours) in the controlled setting of a research laboratory. This study will evaluate whether older adults who have had unintentional falls are willing to enroll in this kind of study, use the device briefly, and undergo research assessments. The study will also test whether using the virtual reality device leads to detectable changes in gait, balance, and mobility confidence. This study will lay the groundwork for more comprehensive studies in the future that will assess the clinical impact of using the device.

Twenty-four subjects will be recruited. They will include equal numbers of older adults who: (1) have fallen without a significant injury (e.g. only minor contusion, lacerations) or (2) have fallen with a significant injury (e.g. dislocation, strain/sprain, or fracture) which has healed prior to enrollment.

Each subject will complete baseline measures of gait, balance, and confidence. Then she or he will be introduced to the virtual reality device and will use it for a brief period. Gait and balance will be tested again, first with the virtual reality device and then, finally, without the virtual reality device.

The device (GaitAid®), developed by co-investigator Yoram Baram, Ph.D., has already been used for the rehabilitation of neurological patients (e.g. Parkinson's Disease). The device is a training tool and NOT a continuous walking aid.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Completed
Enrollment 24
Est. completion date November 2014
Est. primary completion date November 2014
Accepts healthy volunteers No
Gender Both
Age group 60 Years and older
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 60+.

2. English-speaking.

3. One or more unintentional falls in past year.

4. Able to ambulate for at least 10 minutes without continuous assistance, i.e., without human physical assistance and without an assistive device such as a walker, or a cane.

5. A moderate or high level of concern about falling (determined by phone screening by PI).

6. Community dwelling.

Exclusion Criteria:

7. Diagnosed with any neurological disease, i.e., sensory ataxia, cerebellar ataxia, or spasticity of the lower limbs.

8. Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

9. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

10. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

11. Marked cognitive impairment.

12. Uses large eyeglasses to walk.

13. Vision conditions that reduce ability to use the device.

14. Severe hearing loss.

15. Unstable medical condition or terminal illness.

16. Inability to otherwise comply with the study procedures (determined by PI/study clinician).

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Prevention


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


Intervention

Device:
GaitAid®
Provides visual and auditory cues for walking.

Locations

Country Name City State
United States Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York New York

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
Weill Medical College of Cornell University Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary Step length Step length will be measured by GaitMat II® at three time points within the single study session: before using the virtual reality device, while using the virtual reality device, and after using the virtual reality device. Two hours No
Secondary Postural Sway Postural sway will be measured by a plantar pressure measuring device (Novel [Munich, Germany] emed-X) at three time-points during the two-hour study session: before using the virtual reality device, while using the virtual reality device, and again after using the virtual reality device. Two hours No
Secondary Fear of Falling Fear of falling will be measured using a visual analog scale at three time-points during the two-hour study session: before using the virtual reality device, while using the virtual reality device, and again after using the virtual reality device. Two hours No
Secondary Single support time Another aspect of gait, single support time, will also be measured by GaitMat II® at three time points within the single study session: before using the virtual reality device, while using the virtual reality device, and after using the virtual reality device. Two hours No
Secondary Walking velocity Another aspect of gait, walking velocity, will be measured by GaitMat II® at three time points within the single study session: before using the virtual reality device, while using the virtual reality device, and after using the virtual reality device. Two hours No
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