Frequency of Contrast Enhancement on Stairways
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 65
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Toe clearance
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to learn if contrast frequency on step tread-edges influences foot clearance measures, a marker of fall risk, in older adults with and without visual impairments.
The main questions that aim to be answered are how foot clearance measures change across different frequencies of stair contrast, and how experiences and perceptions of different stair contrast frequencies are evaluated.
Researchers will compare individuals with and without visual impairments to see if contrast frequency on step tread-edges changes.
Participants will attend one visit during which their vision will be measured, and they will be asked to ascend and descend laboratory stairs at different contrast frequencies.
An optional second visit will entail a focus group meeting to better understand how contrast affects mobility in their home and everyday life.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to — (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •≥ Contrast sensitivity log 1.6 or greater
- •travels independently in the community, including stairways > two times/week
- •comfortable ascending and descending a stairway with rest time provided
Exclusion Criteria
- •severe rheumatologic and or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease)
- •lower-limb injuries and/or recent joint replacements (e.g., hip fracture, hip, or knee replacement within six months of study enrollment)
Arms & Interventions
Intervention
All participants will participate in the experimental arm, that involves a factorial model approach inwhich all participants will experience all eight conditions.
Intervention: Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Toe clearance
Time Frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Toe, foot vertical clearance on stair steps
Heel clearance
Time Frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
heel, foot horizontal clearance on stair steps
Frequency of <5mm toe clearances
Time Frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
how often \<5mm toe clearances occur
Frequency of <5mm heel clearances
Time Frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
how often \<5mm toe clearances occur
Secondary Outcomes
- Likert-Scale responses of contrast marking frequency conditions(visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year)
- Perception responses of contrast marking frequency conditions(visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year)
Investigators
Sara Harper
Assistant Professor
The University of Alabama in Huntsville