Pilot Study of Virtual Gait Training in Older Adults

Frail Elderly Clinical Trial

Official title:

Pilot Study of Effects of Virtual Gait Training on Walking Stability in Older Adults

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01607736
• Other study ID #: JBMP-VGTinOA-pilot
• Secondary ID: EK:113/11
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: May 16, 2012
• Last updated: May 29, 2012
• Start date: May 2011
• Est. completion date: August 2011

Study information

• Verified date: May 2012
• Source: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Switzerland: Swissmedic
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Older individuals suffer from falls and fear of falling. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a novel virtual gait training on walking performance and fear of falling in older adults, and to evaluate the feasibility of the virtual gait training program. The investigators hypothesize that virtual gait training in older adults over a three week period will both improve gait parameters as measured by a GAITRite® electronic walkway system, and reduce their fear of falling as measured by the Falls Efficacy Scale-International version.

Description:

The objectives of this study are to determine the effectiveness of virtual gait training on walking performance and fear of falling in older adults and to evaluate the feasibility of the virtual gait training. This prospective interventional study plans to include twelve residents of senior assisted living facilities in Basel, Switzerland, aged 65 years or older with no severe physical or cognitive disabilities, and who had fallen at least once in the preceding 12 months. Each participant will complete 14 12-minute virtual gait training sessions within a three-week period. Gait parameters will be quantified with the GAITRite® electronic walkway system, and fear of falling evaluated with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International version. The investigators hypothesize that 14 virtual gait training sessions in older adults over a three week period will both improve gait parameters as measured by a GAITRite® electronic walkway system, and reduce their fear of falling as measured by the Falls Efficacy Scale-International version.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 12
• Est. completion date: August 2011
• Est. primary completion date: August 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 65 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• older than 65 years of age

• fall within last 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• cognitive deficits

• physical disability

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Frail Elderly

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Virtual Gait Training
The intervention consisted of 12-minute virtual gait training sessions once daily for a total of 14 weekdays within a three-week period. The intervention video showed walking legs of a 30-year-old woman for female and a 46-year-old man for male participants. The video screen was adjusted in height such that it corresponded to the legs of the standing participant, with a mirror placed above it. Participants began the training session with a circa one minute of concentration on the upcoming intervention. Afterwards, the video was started. Participants were instructed to stand (when necessary, to sit) and observe the video and mirror, and to imagine themselves walking. Training sessions were supervised by a physical therapist who gave additional instructions and comments regarding participants' visual/kinesthetic imagination of themselves performing the observed movement. Verbal and physical reactions during training sessions were documented in written form and sometimes videotaped.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Switzerland	Mobility Center	Basel	BS

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Switzerland, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	gait speed	gait speed measure with GAITRite® electronic walkway system	Change from baseline in gait speed at 3 weeks	No
Secondary	fear of falling	total score on Falls Efficacy Scale-International version	change from baseline at end of week 3	No