Effectiveness of Impairment Specific Exercises for Balance and Fall Risk in Community-Living Older Adults at Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT ID: NCT02615899

Last Updated: 2015-11-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2013-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2015-02-28

Brief Summary

Background Balance impairment is a key factor contributing to falls in older adults. Conceptually, clinicians may be able to prescribe targeted exercises if specific impairments can be identified. Objective Our objective was to use a model of balance subsystems to identify balance impairments and demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted (matched) exercises to improve balance and reduce fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. The investigators used the Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest) as the model because it categorizes balance into 6 subsystems. Design Randomized, partially blinded, pretest-post-test clinical trial consisting of 2 Phases: 1. A comparison between impairment-matched exercises and a control, and 2. A comparison between impairment-matched and mismatched exercises. Setting Senior independent living community. Participants Adult volunteers (n = 40; aged 74-94) recruited as sample of convenience who met the criteria. Participants (n = 20) identified with impairment in the biomechanical (BC) constraints subsystem and participants (n = 20) with impairment in anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) subsystem were enrolled and randomized into 2 subgroups (matched and control/delayed mismatched; n = 10 each subgroup). Intervention Phase 1: Participants in the matched subgroup received a 6-week exercise program matched to their impaired subsystem while the mismatched subgroup served as control. Phase 2: Following the delay, participants in the mismatched group received a 6-week exercise program mismatched to their impairment. Measurements Primary outcome variables were scores on the targeted subsystem (BC, APA), BESTest total, Berg Balance Scale, and fear of falling measure. Quality of life was a secondary outcome. Outcome data were collected by the tester blind to pretest scores and group allocation. Results The matched exercise subgroups demonstrated both statistical and clinical improvement in all outcome variables compared to the control; and showed greater improvement in balance impairments compared to the mismatched subgroup, but not in fall risk reduction. Limitations The therapist who administered the pretest knew the subgroup assignment and implemented the exercises. Conclusions Results provide preliminary evidence that using a balance assessment model to identify impairments in the BC and APA subsystems and prescribing targeted exercises reduces these balance impairments for older adults and may warrant future studies.

Conditions

Balance, Postural; Exercise Therapy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Matched

Administer Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Matched: Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions

Intervention Type: OTHER

Mismatched

Administer Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Mismatched: Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions

Intervention Type: OTHER

Interventions

Matched: Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions

Intervention Type: OTHER

Mismatched: Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• individuals who met the criteria for a concurrent psychometric study (older adults aged 65 years and older, cognitively able to understand and follow simple instructions,and able to walk independently with or without an assistive device for more than 100 ft); and demonstrated
• elevated fracture risk
• elevated fall risk
• impaired balance in either the BC or APA subsystem of balance as identified with BESTest.

Exclusion Criteria

• individuals who had:

• a progressive diseases or unstable medical conditions
• major surgery in the past 3 months
• physician's orders not to participate in an exercise program for any reason
• impairment in both BC and APA subsystems
• impairments in more than a total of 3 subsystems
• who were currently receiving treatment for balance or fall prevention.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 99 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Drexel University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sheri Silfies

Associate Professor, Research Lab Coordinator, Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Susan S Smith, PT, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Drexel University

Locations

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

1305002061

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id