Evaluating Stairway Designs for Individuals With Vision Impairment

NCT07337317 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 0011
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 65
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to learn if contrast frequency on step tread-edges influences foot clearance measures, a marker of fall risk, in older adults with and without visual impairments. The main questions that aim to be answered are how foot clearance measures change across different frequencies of stair contrast, and how experiences and perceptions of different stair contrast frequencies are evaluated. Researchers will compare individuals with and without visual impairments to see if contrast frequency on step tread-edges changes. Participants will attend one visit during which their vision will be measured, and they will be asked to ascend and descend laboratory stairs at different contrast frequencies. An optional second visit will entail a focus group meeting to better understand how contrast affects mobility in their home and everyday life.

Conditions

Vision, Low; Mobility Limitation

Keywords

older adults; impaired contrast sensivity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Toe clearance

  Toe, foot vertical clearance on stair steps

  visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Heel clearance

  heel, foot horizontal clearance on stair steps

  visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Frequency of <5mm toe clearances

  how often \<5mm toe clearances occur

  visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Frequency of <5mm heel clearances

  how often \<5mm toe clearances occur

  visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Likert-Scale responses of contrast marking frequency conditions

  visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Perception responses of contrast marking frequency conditions

  visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year

Study Arms (1)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

All participants will participate in the experimental arm, that involves a factorial model approach inwhich all participants will experience all eight conditions.

Other: Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps

Interventions

Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps OTHER

Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps will be evaluated to determine how foot clearance, perceptions in older adults with and without impaired contrast sensivity

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• ≥ Contrast sensitivity log 1.6 or greater
• travels independently in the community, including stairways \> two times/week
• comfortable ascending and descending a stairway with rest time provided

You may not qualify if:

• severe rheumatologic and or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease)
• lower-limb injuries and/or recent joint replacements (e.g., hip fracture, hip, or knee replacement within six months of study enrollment)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Alabama in Huntsville: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Alabama in Huntsville

Huntsville, Alabama, 35899, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Vision, Low; Mobility Limitation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Sara A Harper, PhD

  University of Alabama in Huntsville

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sara A Harper, PhD

CONTACT

2568242184; sah0075@uah.edu

Study Design

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

Model Details: Four contrast frequency conditions by two lighting conditions (N = 8) will be evaluated. The four frequencies are (1) contrast markings added to all steps, (2) contrast markings added to the first, last step, (3) contrast markings added to the first, two and last, two steps, (4) no contrast markings on stairs, in both low light and standard lighting conditions

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2025
• First Posted: January 13, 2026
• Study Start: January 22, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: The IDP will be made available within 6 months after publication, and will be made publicly available for 3 years.
• Access Criteria: Access will be monitored through ICPSR.

Locations

US (1)