Training Improves Balance Control

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Accidental Falls
• Interventions: Other: Balance Training Intervention

• Registration Number: NCT01547988
• Lead Sponsor: Boston University

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a group-based functional and specific balance training program on balance function in healthy older adults. It is commonly considered difficult to improve balance function in healthy older adults. The program included dual-task exercises; physical training exercises and a cognitive task (e.g. reading or reciting a story) performed simultaneously, as well as perturbation exercises, where balance is challenged in unexpected ways.

The investigators hypothesized that following the proposed training, older adults would improve their speed of taking a step in both single and dual task conditions, refine their ability to control balance when standing still and improve their self-reported physical function.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2001-10
• Primary Completion: 2003-02
• Study Completion: 2003-08
• Study First Submitted: 2012-02-29
• Status Verified: 2012-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-03-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-03-05
• Study First Posted: 2012-03-08
• Last Update Posted: 2012-03-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 66

Inclusion Criteria

• 65 years or older
• Independently ambulatory (cane acceptable; not walker)
• Score better than 45 on the Berg Balance Scale
• Higher than 24 Mini-Mental Score

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe focal muscle weakness or visual impairment
• Known neurological disorders (including stroke, Parkinson disease)
• Metastatic cancer
• Use of medication that impairs balance or strength

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Balance Training Intervention	Balance Training Intervention	The Balance Training Intervention group received 24 training sessions over three months that included perturbation as well as dual-task exercises.
Reference Group	Balance Training Intervention	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reaction time of dual task step execution	12 weeks	Subjects stand on a force platform and are asked to execute a step as rapidly as possible following a tactile stimulus on their heel while performing a cognitive attention demanding task (Stroop task - call out colors of words that are names of colors, e.g. the word "BLUE" is presented in yellow letters).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Late Life Functional Disability Index - LLFDI	12 weeks	Self-reported measure of function

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States