Attentional Focus Training on Visuomotor Control in Older Adults

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Gait; Attention; Older Adults

• Registration Number: NCT07085364
• Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Brief Summary

This study will be a pilot randomized controlled trial, to investigate the effectiveness of an external focus training on visuomotor performance while comparing with an active control group.

Detailed Description

All eligible participants will be randomly divided into two groups: external focus gait training group (EXT) and active control group (CON). All participants will complete two assessment sessions: at baseline (T0) and immediately following the completion of all training sessions (T1). A total of twelve training sessions (about 45 minutes per session), held twice a week for six weeks, would be provided to participants in both training groups.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Study First Submitted: 2025-06-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-07-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-17
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-25
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-25
• Study Start: 2025-08-01
• Primary Completion: 2026-02
• Study Completion: 2026-05-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 16

Inclusion Criteria

• aged 65 or above
• able to walk independently indoor for at least 40 metres
• static visual acuity score 20/40 or above
• scoring 22/30 or above in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Hong Kong version
• without any history of untreated major neurological, vestibular or musculoskeletal deficits (e.g., stroke or Parkinson's disease)
• without any unstable medical condition that can compromise safety during the experiment
• scoring less than 24/28 in the Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool or scoring 50/56 or below in the Berg Balance Scale

Exclusion Criteria

• none

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Gait stability - variability of stride time	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by a 3-D motion capture system; stride time is defined as the interval between two consecutive heel strikes of the same foot; the variability measure is represented by the coefficients of variation (CV) \[(standard deviation/mean) × 100\]
Gait stability - variability of stride length	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by a 3-D motion capture system; stride length is defined as anterior-posterior (A-P) distance between two consecutive heel strike positions of the same foot; the variability measure is represented by the coefficients of variation (CV) \[(standard deviation/mean) × 100\]
Gait stability - variability of step width	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by a 3-D motion capture system; step width is defined as medial-lateral (M-L) distance between two consecutive heel strike positions of the opposite feet; the variability measure is represented by the coefficients of variation (CV) \[(standard deviation/mean) × 100\]
Visual search behaviours - location of fixation	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by a wireless eye tracker; recorded the location that the gaze is fixated on
Visual search behaviours - the number of fixation	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by a wireless eye tracker; recorded the number of times the gaze is fixated on each area of interest
Visual search behaviours - fixation duration	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by a wireless eye tracker; recorded the duration that the gaze is fixated on each area of interest

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Functional balance and gait	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by the Tinetti Balance Assessment Tool; min: 0; max: 28; higher scores reflect better functional balance and gait
Falls efficacy	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by the Chinese version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International; min: 16; max: 64; higher scores reflect greater concern about falling
Conscious movement processing	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by the Chinese version of the Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale; min: 10, max: 60; higher scores reflect higher propensity for conscious movement processing
Functional balance	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by the Berg Balance Scale; min: 0; max: 56; higher scores reflect better functional balance
Functional mobility	baseline (pre-intervention), immediately after intervention (post-intervention)	measured by the Timed 'Up \& Go' Test (in seconds); a longer time to complete reflects poorer functional mobility