INDIVIDUALIZED DUAL-TASK TRAINING FOR BALANCE AND MOBILITY IN 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: Individualized Dual-Task Training, Standardized Dual-Task Training, Single-Task Motor Training.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Healthy Older Adults, Postural Balance, Dual Task Exercises in Elderly People, Dual Task Cost. Basic parameters: from 65 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
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
EFFECTS OF SENSORİAL AND COGNİTİVE INDİVİDUALİZED DUAL-TASK TRAİNİNG ON FUNCTİONAL BALANCE, MOBİLİTY, AND DUAL-TASK PERFORMANCE İN OLDER ADULTS: A RANDOMİZED CONTROLLED TRİAL
Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to prevent functional decline and improve mobility in healthy older adults aged 65 and over. The main questions it aims to answer are: What is the effect of individualized dual-task training on functional balance and mobility compared to standard training? Does personalized sensory and cognitive training significantly reduce the dual-task cost during walking tasks? Researchers will compare the Individualized Dual-Task Group to a Standardized Dual-Task Group and a Single-Task Control Group to see if personalized adjustments in sensory and cognitive loads lead to superior improvements in balance, gait speed, and motor-cognitive interference. Participants will: Complete an initial assessment of motor and cognitive capacities to determine individual baseline levels. Participate in a supervised exercise program 3 days a week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting 40-45 minutes. Perform motor tasks such as walking, obstacle crossing, and balance exercises while simultaneously engaging in cognitive tasks (e.g., counting, verbal fluency). (For the individualized group) Undergo weekly adjustments in exercise difficulty, including sensory manipulations like surface changes and head movements based on their performance.
Interventions
- Behavioral Individualized Dual-Task Training
An 8-week, supervised exercise program (3 sessions/week, 40-45 min). Training involves simultaneous motor (walking, balance, obstacle crossing) and cognitive tasks (counting, verbal fluency). The cognitive and sensory loads are adjusted weekly based on the participant's performance (Borg Scale and task accuracy) to maintain an optimal challenge level. - Behavioral Standardized Dual-Task Training
An 8-week, supervised dual-task exercise program (3 sessions/week, 40-45 min). Participants perform the same motor and cognitive tasks as the individualized group, but the progression of difficulty is fixed and follows a pre-determined schedule regardless of individual performance changes. - Behavioral Single-Task Motor Training
An 8-week program (3 sessions/week, 40-45 min) consisting only of motor exercises such as walking and balance tasks. No simultaneous cognitive tasks or sensory manipulations are provided during the training sessions.
Primary outcome measures
- Dual-Task Cost (DTC) of Functional Mobility [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention.]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Berg Balance Scale (BBS) [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention.]
- 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention.]
- Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention.]
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) [Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Aged 65 years and older.
- Living independently in the community.
- Ability to walk at least 10 meters without the use of an assistive device (e.g., cane, walker).
- Cognitively intact, defined as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 24 or higher.
- Stable medical condition allowing for participation in an 8-week exercise program.
- Willingness to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- History of neurological disorders affecting movement or cognition (e.g., Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia).
- Acute or chronic orthopedic conditions that severely limit gait or balance (e.g., recent lower limb fracture or major joint replacement within the last 6 months).
- Severe visual or hearing impairment that prevents following instructions or performing tasks.
- Uncontrolled cardiovascular or pulmonary disease.
- Currently participating in another structured exercise or dual-task training program.
- Inability to commit to the 8-week training schedule.
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
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Health Sciences — Istanbul
Publications
- Pike A, McGuckian TB, Steenbergen B, Cole MH, Wilson PH. How Reliable and Valid are Dual-Task Cost Metrics? A Meta-analysis of Locomotor-Cognitive Dual-Task Paradigms. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 Feb;104(2):302-314. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.07.014. Epub 2022 Aug 6. PMID 35940246
- Zhang W, Zhang W, Zu G, Yao M, Li J, Jin Y, Wang L, Tang J. Effects of task-oriented training on balance, gait, and fall in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2026 Jan 21;38(1):56. doi: 10.1007/s40520-025-03303-1. PMID 41566097
- Khan MJ, Fong KNK, Wong TW, Tsang WW, Chen C, Chan WC, Winser SJ. Effectiveness of dual-task exercise in improving balance and preventing falls among older adults: systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. Eur Geriatr Med. 2025 Dec;16(6):2047-2083. doi: 10.1007/s41999-025-01328-3. Epub 2025 Oct 28. PMID 41152559
- Ercan Yildiz S, Fidan O, Gulsen C, Colak E, Genc GA. Effect of dual-task training on balance in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024 Jun;121:105368. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105368. Epub 2024 Feb 9. PMID 38364709
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07448961 · ebrrwlMU