The Influence of Balance Training on Postural Control in Elderly

NCT ID: NCT02836587

Last Updated: 2017-09-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 44 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2017-09-19

Brief Summary

Fall related injuries are major health problem which effect especially elderly population. After experiencing a fall, most of the elderly are unable to resume their previous mobility and the fear of future falls affects their daily life. Falls in elderly population are often related to balance or gait problems. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of balance training on postural and motor control of healthy elderly participants. The study is designed as a parallel interventional study with experimental and control group (allocation ratio 1:1). Participants' general health, balance abilities, fear of falling and gait stability and variability will be assessed on the baseline measurement, right after and 2 months after the completion of the training programme. Experimental group will undergo training focused on development of balance abilities and strength twice a week (60 minutes in length each) for 8 weeks. Participants will receive individualized exercises which will be focused on the main 4 types - stance exercises, gait and transition exercises and strength exercises especially focused on muscle strength of lower extremities.

Conditions

Accidental Falls

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

interventional

Experimental group will undergo balance training for 8 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Balance training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The interventional program will last 8 weeks with the intensity of two 60-minutes lectures a week. Training sessions will be delivered by a physiotherapist to small groups of patients (3-5). Participants will receive individualized exercises which will be focused on main 4 types - stance exercises, gait and transition exercises and strength exercises especially focused on muscle strength of the lower extremities. The difficulty level will be increased progressively after participant's ability to complete each exercise independently (e.g. eyes closed, exercises on balance equipment - wobble board, foam etc., addition of a secondary cognitive task). The training session will consist of a ten-minute warm-up followed by five-minute stretching, 30 minutes of balance training and 15 minutes of stretching and relaxation.

control

Control group will have no assigned intervention.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Balance training

The interventional program will last 8 weeks with the intensity of two 60-minutes lectures a week. Training sessions will be delivered by a physiotherapist to small groups of patients (3-5). Participants will receive individualized exercises which will be focused on main 4 types - stance exercises, gait and transition exercises and strength exercises especially focused on muscle strength of the lower extremities. The difficulty level will be increased progressively after participant's ability to complete each exercise independently (e.g. eyes closed, exercises on balance equipment - wobble board, foam etc., addition of a secondary cognitive task). The training session will consist of a ten-minute warm-up followed by five-minute stretching, 30 minutes of balance training and 15 minutes of stretching and relaxation.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age 60+
• ability to stand and walk without aid or support
• participation in the institutional program "Falls risk and balance assessment" with successful completion of one year of observation for falls

Exclusion Criteria

• neuromuscular or orthopaedic impairments that severely limit mobility and balance
• surgery or injury on the musculoskeletal system less than 2 years before baseline measurement
• any acute illness

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Palacky University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Zdenek Svoboda

Ph.D.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Zdenek Svoboda, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc

Locations

Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc

Olomouc, , Czechia

Countries

Czechia

Other Identifiers

UPOL_FTK_001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id