Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Accidental Falls
• Interventions: Behavioral: Attention Control; Behavioral: fall prevention training

• Registration Number: NCT00714051
• Lead Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a fall prevention program for older adults. Participants assigned to the intervention group will train weekly on a special treadmill that will simulate tripping. Patients not assigned to the tripping program will walk on a standard treadmill.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a fall prevention program for older adults. Participants assigned to the intervention group will train weekly on a special treadmill that will simulate tripping. Patients not assigned to the tripping program will walk on a standard treadmill. The training program will last for 4 weeks. Upon completion, participants will complete a test where a trip is simulated. Those assigned to the intervention group will test one additional time as well.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2008-07-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-07-08
• Study First Posted: 2008-07-14
• Study Start: 2008-10
• Primary Completion: 2012-02
• Results First Submitted: 2014-09-26
• Status Verified: 2014-10
• Study Completion: 2014-10
• Results First Submitted QC: 2014-10-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-10-02
• Results First Posted: 2014-10-08
• Last Update Posted: 2014-10-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

• 65-80 yr old,
• normal reflexes and muscle tone

Exclusion Criteria

• lower extremity fracture or surgery last 5 yrs
• back surgery or disc herniation last 5 yrs
• noticeable gait impairment,
• low back pain,
• decreased disease-related vision,
• dizziness,
• history of heart problems,
• bone mineral density <.65,
• mini-mental score <24

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Attention Control	Attention Control	The attention control group participated in four weekly treadmill walking sessions at a self-selected speed.
Fall Prevention Training	fall prevention training	The falls prevention training group participated in four weekly training sessions on a custom-built treadmill that produced trip-simulating perturbations (movements). While harnessed overhead to prevent actual falls, the treadmill stopped or moved suddenly. The goal for the participant was to try and prevent a fall. Each week, the level of difficulty of the task was increased.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants Who Fell on a Tripping Test	4 weeks	Participants completed a tripping test upon completion of the 4 weeks training period. Participants walked along a platform while harnessed to an overhead rail. Participants walked at a self-selected pace knowing that they will be tripped but do not know how or when the trip will be induced. The trip is induced by an obstruction that deploys from the floor. A decoy rope was laid across the pathway about 3 meters before the trip to intentionally mislead the participant to expect the trip at that point. This expectation affects gait and response to a trip. The participant was tripped on the 3rd set of 10 walking trials.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital; 🇺🇸 Hines, Illinois, United States