Randomised Controlled Trial of Chiropractic Care to Improve Risk of Falls and Sensorimotor Function in Older People
- Conditions
- Postural stability, sensorimotor functionMusculoskeletal - Other muscular and skeletal disorders
- Registration Number
- ACTRN12608000333314
- Lead Sponsor
- ew Zealand College of Chiropractic
- Brief Summary
Not available
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Completed
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 60
Community dwelling adults aged 65 years or older who permanently reside in or near the Ellerslie / Mount Wellington region of Auckland, New Zealand will be eligible to participate in this trial.
Volunteers will be ineligible if they are wheel-chair bound, or unable to remain standing unassisted for a minimum of one minute, as they will be unable to complete the required balance testing. Other exclusion criteria include presence of absolute contraindications to chiropractic care, being unable to comprehend the study information or consent processes, the known presence of severe cognitive, somatic or psychiatric impairment or disease, presence of a terminal illness and being unavailable to participate for one week or more during the study period due to planned travel arrangements or other commitments. A risk assessment for vertebrobasilar insufficiency / vertebral artery dissection (VBI / VAD) will also be conducted and at risk volunteers will be ineligible for inclusion until specialist referral confirms no VBI/VAD exists. Volunteers will also be ineligible if they have received chiropractic care within the previous six months or if they have received spinal manipulation during the previous six months from another healthcare provider.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method The primary objective of this study will be to assess the effect of chiropractic care on objective markers of sensorimotor function. The objective measures of sensorimotor function that were included in this study were choice stepping reaction time, postural stability, joint positions sense of the ankle, and the sound-induced flash illusion. All assessments were conducted at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic in Auckland, New Zealand.[All outcomes were measured at baseline then at 4 weeks and 12 weeks (at the completion of the intervention programme).]
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Quality of life measured using the SF36 version 2 questionnaire[4 weeks and 12 weeks]