The Use of Virtual Reality for the Gait Training of Elderly Fallers

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Elderly
• Interventions: Other: gait training; Other: gait training 2; Other: exercise group

• Registration Number: NCT01182961
• Lead Sponsor: Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Brief Summary

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of gait training using virtual reality to decrease the risk of falls in elderly idiopathic fallers. The investigator hypothesize that training with virtual reality would increase the ability to perform in the "real world" environment and decrease the risk of falls in elderly adults.

Detailed Description

The study is a prospective single-blinded randomized control study with repeated measures at pre intervention, post intervention and follow up at 3 and 6 months post intervention. For six months after termination of the intervention, all subjects will fill out a log book in which they will write the occurrence and date of falls. total time of participation in the study will be 8 months.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2010-07-20
• Status Verified: 2010-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-08-16
• Study First Posted: 2010-08-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-08-27
• Last Update Posted: 2010-08-30
• Study Start: 2010-09
• Primary Completion: 2012-09
• Study Completion: 2013-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• between the ages of 65-85
• independent in activities of daily living
• able to walk without assistance for at least 10 minutes
• cognitively intact (Mini Mental State Exam ≥24)
• reported 2 or more falls within 6 months prior to the beginning of the study

Exclusion Criteria

• any neurological, orthopedic or any other impairment likely to impact gait.
• severe visual impairments
• major depression as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treadmill +virtual reality training	gait training	-
Treadmill alone	gait training 2	-
standard of care exercise group	exercise group	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Gait dynamics	one week after training	using an accelerometer, the coefficient of variation will be calculated

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
cognitive function	one week after training	using a cmputerized cognitive battary and neuropsychological testing

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, Israel