Comparison of Smartphone and Community-Based Delivery of the Otago Exercise Program for Fall Risk in Older Adults

NCT07433153 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00006790
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The long-term goal of this project is to effectively bridge the research-clinic-community gap and to foster partnerships that support the implementation, utilization, and advocacy of evidence-based fall prevention programs in the older adult community. The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is an evidence-based fall prevention program that has been shown to reduce falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. Traditionally, OEP is delivered in the home by a physical therapist and focuses on muscle strengthening and balance training. Despite its proven effectiveness, adherence and compliance rates have been low. The personnel and resource demands of program delivery, along with challenges in monitoring participant adherence, represent significant barriers to broader implementation. Alternative delivery systems using remote and community-based platforms may help address these limitations. Specific Aim 1: To compare the effectiveness of two delivery modes of the Otago Exercise Program: a remotely delivered, home-based smartphone program and an in-person, community-based program. Specific Aim 2: To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the Otago Exercise Program delivered through both smartphone-based and in-person formats.

Conditions

Frail Elderly; Fall

Keywords

Otago; Falls; Smartphone; Group Exercise; Balance; Stepping

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Gait Velocity

  Self-selected walking speed (m/s) over level surface

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Injurious Falls

  Up to 1-year post intervention

• PPA-Short Form: Postural Sway

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

• PPA-Short Form: Finger Reaction Time

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

• PPA-Short Form: Knee Extensor Strength

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

• PPA-Short Form: Visual Contrast Sensitivity

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

Other Outcomes (5)

• Four square step test

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

• Frailty

  Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later)

• Self-reported Assessment: Enjoyment

  At study completion, or on average 1 week post-training

Study Arms (2)

Smartphone In-home Delivery

EXPERIMENTAL

In-home 8-week OTAGO program

Behavioral: Smartphone-Based Intervention

Group In-Person Delivery

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In-Person 8-week Group OTAGO Program

Behavioral: Group-Based Intervention

Interventions

Smartphone-Based Intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the smartphone-based group will receive Otago Exercise Program instructions delivered through Improve, an investigator-developed application. This application, installed on each participant's iOS or Android smartphone, will allow participants to track their exercises and review workout instructions. Participants in the smartphone-based group will be contacted weekly by phone to ensure safety and adherence and to assist with troubleshooting any technology-related issues. All participants will be instructed to maintain their usual activity patterns and to refrain from initiating any new structured physical activity programs during the 8-week study period. Participants will be directed by Doctor of Physical Therapy students under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist, with weekly phone check-ins.

Also known as: Otago

Smartphone In-home Delivery

Group-Based Intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the in-person, community-based group will complete the individualized Otago Exercise Program in a group setting at the Johnson City Senior Center, under the guidance of Doctor of Physical Therapy students (4) and supervision of licensed Physical Therapists.

Also known as: Otago

Group In-Person Delivery

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 55 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Community-dwelling older adults 55 years of age or older
• Communicate in English
• Able to ambulate at least 10 meters with or without an assistive device.
• Cognitively intact based on scoring 18/22 or greater on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)-Blind during a phone screening process
• Have access to an Android or iOS smartphone
• Intermediate or high risk of falling, based on World Guidelines for Falls Prevention (Montero-Odasso et al, 2022)

You may not qualify if:

• Lower limb amputation
• Visual impairment uncorrectable with lenses
• Uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, neurological or musculoskeletal impairment
• Persistent symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness
• Spine or lower-extremity surgery in the past 12 months
• Self-reported pain of \>7 on a scale of 0-10

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Binghamton University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Binghamton University

Binghamton, New York, 13902, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Gait Disorders, Neurologic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Vipul Lugade, PhD

CONTACT

16077774700; vlugade@binghamton.edu

Patima Silsupadol, PT, PhD

CONTACT

patimas@binghamton.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2026
• First Posted: February 25, 2026
• Study Start: February 16, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

US (1)