Targeting the Hip Abductors to Reduce Falls in Older Veterans Through A Virtual Multimodal Balance Intervention

NCT07109466 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: RRD6-005-24WI01RD000434
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 110
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Falls are a major health concern and a leading cause of injurious death and non-fatal injuries in older Veterans who are at greater risk for falls than non-Veterans. This in-person exercise intervention targeting changes in the hip muscles, known to play a major role in balance, has been effective at reducing falls in older Veterans. Gerofit is a VA best practice health promotion program that demonstrates good success in engaging Veterans in exercise. However, the role of Gerofit in fall prevention is unknown. Some Veterans may require additional training prior to participation in Gerofit to maximize the benefits of Gerofit. The proposed intervention will use novel home-based methods of exercise to improve hip muscles prior to participating in Gerofit. The goal of this study is to evaluate if a live virtual home-based multimodal balance intervention done prior to Gerofit compared to Gerofit alone will have a greater benefit on fall risk reduction and improved muscle and mobility function.

Conditions

Falls

Keywords

Fall

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Balance

  The four-square step test will be used as a measure of balance. The change in the amount of time it takes to complete the four-square step test comparing pre and post-intervention.

  3-months

• Isometric Hip Abductor Strength

  A measure of the maximal isometric muscle strength produced in hip abductor muscles will be assessed with a handheld dynamometer device. Pre-test levels will be compared to post-intervention levels.

  3-months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Mobility

  3-months

Study Arms (2)

MMBI + Gerofit

EXPERIMENTAL

Participation in a virtual multi-modality balance intervention that targets the hip abductors for 3-months followed by 9 months participation in virtual Gerofit

Other: Mulit-modality Balance Intervention; Other: Gerofit

Gerofit

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participation in a virtual wellness program that consists of a warm up, aerobic training, and general strength training

Other: Gerofit

Interventions

Mulit-modality Balance Intervention OTHER

Participants will attend a virtual group balance class that focuses on movement and obstacle negotiation 3 times per week for 3-months

Also known as: MMI

MMBI + Gerofit

Gerofit OTHER

Participation in a virtual wellness program that consists of a warm up, aerobic training, and general strength training 3-times per week for up to 12 months

Gerofit; MMBI + Gerofit

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Veteran Status
• years or older
• VA primary Care provider
• Enrolled in the VA Maryland Health Care System for health care
• At risk for Falls

You may not qualify if:

• Poorly controlled hypertension
• Home oxygen use
• Contraindications to exercise or resistance exercise
• Significant cognitive impairment
• Other medical condition precluding patient participation in this study as per medical judgment of study team

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development: lead

Study Sites (1)

Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Odessa R. Addison, PhD DPT

  Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jeffrey P Beans, BS

CONTACT

(410) 605-7000; jeffrey.beans@va.gov

Rhianna Patel, MS

CONTACT

(443) 421-5833; rhianna.patel@va.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: FED
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 31, 2025
• First Posted: August 7, 2025
• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 3, 2031
• Last Updated: April 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)