Noise-Enhanced Sensory Function in Elders at Risk for Falls

NCT ID: NCT00421759

Last Updated: 2009-12-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

170 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-04-30

Study Completion Date

2009-01-31

Brief Summary

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The long-term goal of this project is to develop a non-invasive, noise-based technique for enhancing somatosensation and thereby improving balance control in elderly fallers and older adults with somatosensory deficits.

Detailed Description

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Previous studies have shown that sub-sensory mechanical noise (i.e., random vibration with a small intensity) can enhance somatosensory function in healthy individuals and older adults with somatosensory deficits. Moreover, the postural sway of both healthy young and healthy elderly individuals during quiet standing can be significantly reduced by applying sub-sensory mechanical noise to the feet using vibrating shoe insoles.

The specific aims of this project are to determine the effects of noise-enhanced somatosensation at the feet on balance performance in elderly individuals with somatosensory deficits and/or recurrent falls, and to assess whether adaptation occurs in noise-enhanced balance control in these individuals. To accomplish these aims, quiet-standing and dynamic posture studies and clinical balance assessments will be conducted on elderly individuals with somatosensory deficits and elderly individuals with recurrent falls (two or more falls over a 12-month period).

This project could lead to the development of a novel bioengineering technique for improving balance control in older adults and patients with somatosensory deficits. The work could thus serve to reduce the frequency, morbidity and cost of falling, and assist aged individuals in achieving maximal independence in activities of daily living and mobility.

Two groups of participants will be recruited from the RNH Epidemiology Core: 85 elderly individuals with somatosensory deficits, and 85 elderly individuals with recurrent falls. The study consists of three visits--a one-hour neurological exam, and two 6-hour laboratory testing sessions scheduled one week apart.

Conditions

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Aging Somatosensory Deficit

Keywords

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Sensory loss psychomotor function balance gait

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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1

85 elderly individuals with somatosensory deficits

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vibrating Insoles

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants wear vibrating sandals for 3 trials of 6 minutes, during a single lab visit. The sandal vibration is on during either first or second 3 minutes of the 6 minute trial, as they walk. Also, participants wear the sandals for 2 hours while sitting, with vibrations on for one visit and off for the other.

2

85 elderly individuals with recurrent falls

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vibrating Insoles

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants wear vibrating sandals for 3 trials of 6 minutes, during a single lab visit. The sandal vibration is on during either first or second 3 minutes of the 6 minute trial, as they walk. Also, participants wear the sandals for 2 hours while sitting, with vibrations on for one visit and off for the other.

Interventions

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Vibrating Insoles

Participants wear vibrating sandals for 3 trials of 6 minutes, during a single lab visit. The sandal vibration is on during either first or second 3 minutes of the 6 minute trial, as they walk. Also, participants wear the sandals for 2 hours while sitting, with vibrations on for one visit and off for the other.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Participant must (1) have somatosensory deficit (mild to moderate sensory loss on the bottom of both feet) OR (2) be classified as a recurrent faller (two or more incident falls over a twelve-month period not related to syncope, major medical events, or overwhelming external hazards)
* Age 70 and older
* Able to stand unassisted for at least 60 seconds several times over a 30-minute period
* Able to walk without assistance from a walking aid

Exclusion Criteria

* Known history of seizures or fainting
* Unstable medical condition
* Open lesions or poor skin condition on feet
* Unable to cooperate with or understand the protocol
* Foot size larger or smaller than the constructed vibrating insoles (men's sizes smaller than 3 or larger than 12; women's sizes smaller than 4.5 or larger than 13.5)
Minimum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Applied Biodynamics Laboratory, Boston University

Locations

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Applied Biodynamics Laboratory, Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Ted Gruen

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 617-363-8554

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Attila Priplata, PhD

Role: primary

References

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Priplata AA, Niemi JB, Harry JD, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Vibrating insoles and balance control in elderly people. Lancet. 2003 Oct 4;362(9390):1123-4. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14470-4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14550702 (View on PubMed)

Kiemel T, Oie KS, Jeka JJ. Multisensory fusion and the stochastic structure of postural sway. Biol Cybern. 2002 Oct;87(4):262-77. doi: 10.1007/s00422-002-0333-2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12386742 (View on PubMed)

Laughton CA, Slavin M, Katdare K, Nolan L, Bean JF, Kerrigan DC, Phillips E, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Aging, muscle activity, and balance control: physiologic changes associated with balance impairment. Gait Posture. 2003 Oct;18(2):101-8. doi: 10.1016/s0966-6362(02)00200-x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14654213 (View on PubMed)

Liu W, Lipsitz LA, Montero-Odasso M, Bean J, Kerrigan DC, Collins JJ. Noise-enhanced vibrotactile sensitivity in older adults, patients with stroke, and patients with diabetic neuropathy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Feb;83(2):171-6. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.28025.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11833019 (View on PubMed)

Priplata A, Niemi J, Salen M, Harry J, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Noise-enhanced human balance control. Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Dec 2;89(23):238101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.238101. Epub 2002 Nov 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12485044 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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5P01AG004390-230014

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

5P01AG004390

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

AG0072

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id