None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Fatigue can impair standing balance and functional task performance in older people. We have recently found that general fatigue (induced by repeated sit-to-stand movements as fast as possibly until exhaustion) impaired movement control and foot positioning before and after negotiation of low-level obstacles in older people while walking. However, it is not known whether more ecological aspects of general fatigue may similarly impair balance and mobility and increase the risk of falling in older people. This study will determine whether a busy day of physical activity ("real world" fatigue) impacts balance and mobility measures in older people, compared to a more restful day.
Interventions
Participants will be asked to attend the falls and balance laboratory at NeuRA before and after a planned busy day and planned restful day, presented in a random order, at least one week apart.
For the busy day, participants will be asked to schedule several daily activities (based on their estimates of the busiest days they have) into the one day, between 10am and 4pm.
For the relaxing day, participants will be asked to schedule few daily activities (based on their most relaxing days), between
Participants will be asked to attend the falls and balance laboratory at NeuRA before and after a planned busy day and planned restful day, presented in a random order, at least one week apart. For the busy day, participants will be asked to schedule several daily activities (based on their estimates of the busiest days they have) into the one day, between 10am and 4pm. For the relaxing day, participants will be asked to schedule few daily activities (based on their most relaxing days), between 10am and 4pm. Participants will be asked to wear an activity monitor on each of the busy day and the restful day, to quantify the amount of time sitting, standing and moving.
Sponsors
Dr Daina Sturnieks
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
People will be eligible if they are 65 years or older and do not have acute or chronic disorders that affect either their stepping or their cognitive performance.
Exclusion criteria
Unable to stand unassisted, have a significant visual, cognitive or neurological impairment (including Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis) or have insufficient English language skills to understand the assessment procedure.
Outcome results
None listed