Examining the Feasibility of an Outdoor Therapeutic Horse Carriage As a Perturbation -based Balance Training

NCT06708104 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: LOE-0010-24
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The proposed study is a prospective experimental single-arm pre-post study aiming to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of an outdoor therapeutic horse carriage, i.e., the Equine Dynamic Balance (EDB), as a form of reactive balance training. First, the investigators will describe the mechanical parameters of perturbations generated by the EDB's standing platform, including displacement, velocity and acceleration. Second, the investigators will assess the effect of EDB training on balance. Independent healthy young adults who do not suffer from balance impairments willing to participate in the study will be tested before and after EDB training, that will be delivered by standing on a dynamic therapeutic horse carriage pulled by a horse, to explore whether there are differences in balance control and balance reactions as a result of a 2-week EDB intervention program.

Conditions

Balance Impairment; Accidental Fall

Keywords

Reactive balance; Perturbation training; Animal-assisted therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Reactive stepping response

  the total step path length is the sum of the total distance each foot travelled during perturbation until completing the recovery stepping response. It will be measured in centimeters.

  change from baseline assessment (pre-test) to end of training program at 2 weeks (post-test).

• Reactive stepping response during a training session

  the total step path length is the sum of the total distance each foot travelled during a perturbation until completing the recovery stepping response. It will be measured in centimetres.

  during a training session, an average of 20 minutes.

• The three-dimensional perturbation displacement

  The three-dimensional displacement, in three axes, of the dynamic platform in a balance perturbation. It will be measured in centimetres.

  during a training session, an average of 20 minutes.

• The three-dimensional perturbation velocity

  The three-dimensional velocity, in three axes, of the dynamic platform in a balance perturbation. It will be measured in meter per second (meter/second).

  during a training session, an average of 20 minutes.

• The three-dimensional perturbation acceleration

  The three-dimensional acceleration, in three axes, of the dynamic platform in a balance perturbation. It will be measured in meter/secound2.

  during a training session, an average of 20 minutes.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• reactive grasping response

  change from baseline assessment (pre-test) to end of training program at 2 weeks (post-test).

• reactive grasping response during a training session

  during a training session, an average of 20 minutes.

• total recovery time during a training session

  during a training session, an average of 20 minutes.

• total recovery time

  : change from baseline assessment (pre-test) to end of training program at 2 weeks (post-test).

Other Outcomes (1)

• satisfaction and subjective effects on balance in daily lives

  at post-test, end of the 2-week training program.

Study Arms (1)

Outdoor horse-assisted perturbation training

EXPERIMENTAL

Outdoor perturbation training during Equine Dynamic Balance

Device: Outdoor horse-assisted perturbation training

Interventions

Outdoor horse-assisted perturbation training DEVICE

This is balance training in which a special carriage, i.e. a dynamic standing platform, is pulled by a horse on the outside surface, providing the trainee with multi-directional 3D balance perturbations that depend on the topography of the training area (various slopes and surface types), the horse walking speed, and its ability to stop, accelerate, and turns.

Outdoor horse-assisted perturbation training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy young participants
• Adults aged 18-45 years
• Measuring between150-190 cm in stature, with a mass of less than 100 kg
• No neurological or vestibular or orthopedic mobility impairing conditions, and with no current musculoskeletal injury.

You may not qualify if:

• blindness or serious vestibular impairments (Meniere's disease, dizziness)
• an inability to ambulate independently
• symptomatic severe cardiovascular disease
• neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's, or Multiple sclerosis
• orthopedic acute disorders requiring total hip or knee replacement
• severe rheumatoid arthritis; and/or (g) cancer (metastatic or under active treatment).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Loewenstein Hospital: lead

Central Study Contacts

Amir A Haim, M.D

CONTACT

+972-54-976-5999; AMIRHA6@clalit.org.il

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2024
• First Posted: November 27, 2024
• Study Start: December 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2025
• Study Completion: August 1, 2025
• Last Updated: November 27, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share