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

NCT02615899 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1305002061
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Keywords

Older Adults, Falls

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• BESTest total

  Balance

  6 weeks

• Targeted subsystem of BESTest (APA or BC subsystem)

  Subsystem balance

  6 weeks

• Berg Balance Scale

  Fall risk indicator

  6 weeks

• the University of Illinois at Chicago Fear of Falling Measurement (UIC FFM)

  Fall risk indicator

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Short Form Health Survey (SF-12, Version 2; QualityMetric Inc.) questionnaire

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Matched

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Administer Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions

Other: Matched: Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions

Mismatched

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Administer Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions

Other: Mismatched: Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions

Interventions

Matched: Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions OTHER

Matched

Mismatched: Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions OTHER

Mismatched

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Drexel University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19102, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Susan S Smith, PT, PhD

  Drexel University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Research Lab Coordinator, Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2015
• First Posted: November 26, 2015
• Study Start: November 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2015
• Study Completion: February 1, 2015
• Last Updated: November 26, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-11

Locations

US (1)