Gait, Unsteady, Postural Imbalance
Conditions
Keywords
Accidental Falls, Risk Assessment, Frail Elderly
Brief summary
This study evaluates the screening accuracy of a device (OAK) in assessing fall risk in the elderly, compared to the assessment provided by the Algorithm for Fall Risk Assessment of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The OAK device is a technologic system, based on virtual reality. It allows to quickly perform a fall risk assessment integrating clinical indexes of the Brief-BESTest (The Balance Evaluation System Test), and kinematic and posturgraphic indexes. The participants interact with the OAK device through simple exercises, then the device provides an assessment of their functional mobility, equilibrium and postural reactions.
Detailed description
Falls are a serious problem among the elderly. Most falls do not cause death, but 20%-30% of falls result in serious injuries representing a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Good evidence shows that many falls can be prevented. Thus, identifying people with risk of falling is crucial. The aim of this study is the evaluation of the screening accuracy of a device (OAK) in assessing fall risk in the elderly. Participants are recruited at IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedic Hospital in Milan, among outpatients and healthy volunteers. A brief questionnaire is administered in order to collect data relevant to the CDC Algorithm for Fall Risk Assessment. Then, participants are assessed through the OAK device. The OAK assessment is evaluated in terms of performance, accuracy (in comparison to the CDC Algorithm for Fall Risk Assessment) and safety.
Interventions
DEVICEOAK
The OAK device evaluates the fall risk through exercises assessing mobility, equilibrium and postural reaction.
Sponsors
I.R.C.C.S Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Able to walk without walking aids. * Signed informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Neurological, musculoskeletal and orthopaedic disorders limiting mobility function and equilibrium. Psychiatric disorders. Any other medical condition limiting mobility function, as diabetes, obesity, serious ocular disorders (e.g. glaucoma), vestibular disorders (e.g. labyrinthitis) and proprioceptive disorders (e.g. ataxia). * Pacemaker. * Surgical interventions for orthopaedic disorders (e.g. knee or hip prosthesis) during the previous 6 months. * Drug intake altering coordination and equilibrium (e.g. anti-epileptic, sedative-hypnotic drugs). * Pregnancy.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OAK failures in the fall risk assessment | Baseline | Proportion of participants for which the OAK device is not able to provide a fall risk assessment |
| OAK sensitivity in the fall risk assessment | Baseline | Proportion of participants assessed by the OAK device as moderate/high risk of falling among those at moderate/high risk according to the CDC Algorithm for Fall Risk Assessment |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adverse events | Baseline | Adverse events occurring during the assessment |
| Serious adverse events | Baseline | Serious adverse events occurring during the assessment |
| Rate of falls | During the previous 6 months | Number of falls during the prevoius 6 months |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed