Attentional Focus Instructions and Conscious Movement Processing in Older Adults

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Walking, Difficulty; Fall Injury; Gait, Unsteady
• Interventions: Other: Walking trials

• Registration Number: NCT05411536
• Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Brief Summary

This study aims to provide a novel scientific contribution through addressing critical knowledge gaps, examining the effects of attentional focus instructions on real-time (state) conscious movement processing propensity, gait parameters, and muscle efficiency in older adults in Hong Kong at risk of falling while walking in a challenging environment. The study results could update our scientific understanding of the mechanisms of conscious movement processing and the interventional effects of attentional focus instructions in older adults. It could ultimately enhance the methodology used for developing the most appropriate psychomotor gait re-education intervention in rehabilitation and provide clear guidelines on the exact attentional focus training that older adults require. Further, it could mitigate the effect of conscious movement processing and risk of falling in older adults.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-06-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-06-06
• Study First Posted: 2022-06-09
• Study Start: 2022-07-15
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-27
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-29
• Primary Completion: 2024-06-30
• Study Completion: 2024-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 106

Inclusion Criteria

• age 65 or above;
• able to walk independently indoor for at least 20 metres without a walking aid.

Exclusion Criteria

• a total score of less than 24 on the MMSE-C (Chiu et al., 1994; Folstein et al., 1975);
• the presence of any untreated cerebral vascular disease, Parkinson's disease, or any other major neurological deficit;
• the presence of an unstable medical condition affecting safety while walking ;
• a history of a major fall incident within the last year;
• a static visual acuity poorer than 20/40 vision (assessed using the Tumbling E eye chart).

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
low reinvestor group (LRG)	Walking trials	The participants were divided into two groups, the high reinvestor group (HRG) and the low reinvestor group (LRG), using the conventional median split of their scores on the MSRS-C (Chu \& Wong, 2019; Mak et al., 2020).
high reinvestor group (HRG)	Walking trials	The participants were divided into two groups, the high reinvestor group (HRG) and the low reinvestor group (LRG), using the conventional median split of their scores on the MSRS-C (Chu \& Wong, 2019; Mak et al., 2020).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Real-time (state) conscious movement processing propensity	Day 0	It will be measured by the Alpha2 EEG T3-Fz coherence.
Stride-to-stride variability	Day 0	It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system by the coefficients of variation (CV).
Stride length	Day 0	It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system in the unit of meter (m).
Gait speed	Day 0	It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system in the unit of meter per second (m/s).
Body sway	Day 0	It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system in the unit of millimeter (mm).
Muscle efficiency	Day 0	It will be measured by the surface electromyography (EMG).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Trait conscious movement processing propensity	Day 0	It will be measured by the Chinese version of the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale. The minimum value of the scale is 10 and the maximum value is 60. Higher score represents higher trait conscious movement processing propensity.
Walking ability	Day 0	It will be measured by the Timed 'Up \& Go' tests.
Fear of falling	Day 0	It will be measured by the Chinese version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International. The minimum value of the scale is 16 and the maximum value is 64. Higher score represents higher fear of falling.
Balance ability	Day 0	It will be measured by the Berg Balance Scale. The minimum value of the scale is 0 and the maximum value is 56. Higher score represents better balance ability.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 🇨🇳 Hong Kong, China