Effectiveness of a screening program for early balance problems and a targeted exercise intervention in older people

In older people with early balance problems, is a home-based targeted exercise intervention effective in improving balance performance?

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12607000525482

Enrollment

205

Registered

2007-10-11

Start date

2006-03-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

This randomised controlled trial is using the Neurocom Balance Master force platform for early detection of balance problems amongst older community ambulant Veterans. For Veterans who are assessed as having balance outside of normal limits for their age, they will be randomised to either receive usual care or an exercise program. The exercise program will be a targeted balance and strength training program developed by a physiotherapist (based on the Otago exercise program that has been shown to reduce falls). After six months a follow-up balance assessment will be undertaken to determine whether the exercise program has brought balance back to within normal limits. This study will provide a better understanding of the types of early balance problems that occur, the frequency of undetected balance problems in a reasonably well sample, and the response of a targeted exercise program in addressing the early presence of balance problems in community ambulant Veterans. The study is due to be completed in the later half of 2008.

Interventions

A home-based targeted exercise program prescribed by a physiotherapist. This is a balance and strength training program, 5 times a week for 6 months based on the Otago Exercise Program.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

65 Years to -2147483648 No limit

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

being aged 65 years; living in the community (at home or in a retirement village); being community ambulant; uses no walking aid or only a single point stick; has had no more than one fall in the past 12 months; has concerns about balance, confidence or near falls.

Exclusion criteria

people younger than 65 years; people live in a residential care facility; people who walk away from home less than three times weekly; people who use a walking frame; people who have had more than one fall in the past year; people who have no concern about balance, confidence or near falls.

Outcome results