Optimal Intensity of Reactive Balance Training for Healthy Older Adults
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Reactive balance training, Walking.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Accidental Falls. Basic parameters: 65 years — 80 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Falls in daily life are a serious risk for older adults. A new type of balance training, called reactive balance training (RBT) involves people losing balance many times so that they can practice fast balance reactions, like stepping reactions. Differences in training program features might explain differences in the results of previous RBT studies. Training intensity is the difficulty or challenge of the training program. It would be valuable to know if high-intensity RBT improves balance reactions quickly. The main goal of this study is to see if more intense RBT improves balance reactions faster than less intense RBT. The investigators will compare how quickly people improve balance reactions between high- and moderate-intensity RBT, and between RBT and a control program that does not include RBT. The investigators will also test if the improvements in balance reactions last after the training program is over. The secondary goals are to understand exactly how balance reactions improve with training, and to determine if people who complete RBT improve their general balance skills, and falls efficacy more than people who do not complete RBT.
Interventions
- Behavioral Reactive balance training
Reactive balance training involves clients experiencing repeated balance perturbations so that they can practice and improve control of reactions to avoid falling after a loss of balance. - Behavioral Walking
Overground walking
Primary outcome measures
- Number of reactive steps [Time frame: Two weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (7)
- Step initiation time [Time frame: One week and 12 weeks post-training]
- Step execution time [Time frame: One week and 12 weeks post-training]
- Step length [Time frame: One week and 12 weeks post-training]
- Braking impulse [Time frame: One week and 12 weeks post-training]
- Mechanical margin of stability [Time frame: One week and 12 weeks post-training]
- Balance evaluation systems test [Time frame: One week and 12 weeks post-training]
- Falls efficacy scale - International [Time frame: One week, 12 weeks, and 12 months post-training]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Community-dwelling older adults (65-80 years old)
Exclusion criteria
- Unable to stand independently without upper-limb support for >30 seconds and/or walk independently (without a gait aid) for ≥10 metres;
- Diagnosed neurological condition that could affect balance control (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease);
- Score below normative values on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment;
- Score below age-matched normative values for sensory and motor function, as assessed using the FallScreen battery;
- Have insufficient English language comprehension such that they cannot understand instructions;
- Have contraindications to reactive balance training such as severe osteoporosis; and/or
- Are currently attending physiotherapy or supervised exercise.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- University Health Network — Toronto
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06657989 · 24-5665