Fall Prevention in Older Adults Study

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

17 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-07-25

Study Completion Date

2018-03-30

Brief Summary

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Poor balance is one of the major risk factors for falling in older adults. A Matter of Balance (MOB) is one of the most commonly used fall prevention programs nationally. Despite its name, MOB focuses on managing concerns about falling, and does not include a balance component. We are testing to see if adding a dual-task balance component (balance and mental thinking) to MOB can improve balance and walking better, than MOB only.

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Detailed Description

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Fall prevention interventions among community-dwelling older adults are essential. A Matter of Balance (MOB) is one of the most commonly used community-based fall prevention interventions nationally, and is considered the 'fall prevention standard of care'. MOB programs are targeted to reduce the fear of falling and promote physical activity among all older community-dwelling adults. While evidence indicates that the MOB program leads to small, sustained decreases in older adults' perceived fear of falling, there is no evidence of objectively measured balance and gait. Despite its name, MOB focuses on cognitive restructuring to manage concerns about falling, and does not include a balance component. Among community-dwelling older adults, both intact balance and concomitant attention ("dual-tasking") are essential to prevent falls, and dual-task balance components are now requisite per evidence-based fall prevention intervention guidelines.

Conditions

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Accidental Fall Postural Balance

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The proposed pilot study will employ a single-blind, two-group randomized clinical trial. We will randomly assign 24 community-dwelling older adults (≥ 60 years) from an underserved population who are at high fall risk to either: A.) 4-week MOB+DTBC intervention, or B.) 4-week MOB only intervention (n=12/group).

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

As with any active intervention, participants will know their group assignment and double-blinding is not possible. Of note, our primary outcome measures are objective and require post-processing, thus study staff collecting the data will be "blinded" to participant results. Further, our bio-engineer post-processor will be blinded to study assignment.

Study Groups

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MOB+DTBC Group

A Matter of Balance plus Dual-Task Balance Challenge Group. Standardized MOB classes twice/week for 4 weeks, plus 15 minutes of DTBC each class. Each class is 2 hours 15 minutes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

A Matter of Balance plus Dual-Task Balance Challenge Group

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive the standard MOB classes, along with a 15-min DTBC each class, i.e., right and left foot ankle-reaching to three differently colored markers. Three colored dots are placed on the ground in an arc, using different colored stick-on dots. A chair can be placed in front of the color pattern, as needed for safety.

MOB Group

A Matter of Balance Group. Standardized MOB classes twice/week for 4 weeks, plus 15 minutes of social time each class. Each class is 2 hours 15 minutes.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

A Matter of Balance Group

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive the standard MOB class, taught by a certified MOB, using course materials developed by MaineHealth's Partnering for Healthy Aging (http://www.mainehealth.org/pfha).

Interventions

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A Matter of Balance plus Dual-Task Balance Challenge Group

Participants will receive the standard MOB classes, along with a 15-min DTBC each class, i.e., right and left foot ankle-reaching to three differently colored markers. Three colored dots are placed on the ground in an arc, using different colored stick-on dots. A chair can be placed in front of the color pattern, as needed for safety.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A Matter of Balance Group

Participants will receive the standard MOB class, taught by a certified MOB, using course materials developed by MaineHealth's Partnering for Healthy Aging (http://www.mainehealth.org/pfha).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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MOB+DTBC Group MOB Group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Community-dwelling older adults from all sex/gender and racial/ethnic groups, aged ≥ 60 years, at high fall risk (FRQ=Fall Risk Questionnaire score \> 4), who live in the greater Tucson, AZ area.

Exclusion Criteria

* Older adults currently attending MOB or other fall prevention classes (e.g. Fall Proof), having a severe mobility disorder (e.g., unable to walk 15 feet with an assistive device), severe visual or hearing impairment, non-English speaking, lack of decision-making capacity, unable to provide informed consent, serious psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia), moderately-severe depression (PHQ-9=Patient Health Questionnaire ≥ 15), cognitive impairment (MMSE=Mini-Mental Status Exam ≤ 23), or serious medical condition (e.g., cancer treatments).

Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes