Pilot Study of Virtual Gait Training in Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Frail Elderly
• Interventions: Behavioral: Virtual Gait Training

• Registration Number: NCT01607736
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Brief 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.

Detailed 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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-05
• Primary Completion: 2011-08
• Study Completion: 2011-08
• Status Verified: 2012-05
• Study First Submitted: 2012-05-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-05-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-05-29
• Study First Posted: 2012-05-30
• Last Update Posted: 2012-05-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 12

Inclusion Criteria

• older than 65 years of age
• fall within last 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

• cognitive deficits
• physical disability

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Virtual Gait Training	Virtual Gait Training	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
gait speed	Change from baseline in gait speed at 3 weeks	gait speed measure with GAITRite® electronic walkway system

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
fear of falling	change from baseline at end of week 3	total score on Falls Efficacy Scale-International version

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mobility Center; 🇨🇭 Basel, BS, Switzerland