Fall
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is a single-center, prospective, non-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with an experimental and a control group with the aim of evaluating the clinical impact of a home-based falls prevention program using a new biofeedback system on community-dwellers older adults with fall risk in comparison with standard of care. The experimental group will perform a 12-week exercise program at home, under remote monitoring from a clinical team, whereas the control group will benefit from standard medical care currently in place at the participating primary care facility. The hypothesis is that the home-based falls prevention program will lead to a lower risk of falling than standard medical care.
Interventions
DEVICEBiofeedback device
12-week exercise program performed through the device
BEHAVIORALEducation on falls risk
Education on falls risk factors and how to minimize them
OTHERMedication review
Medication will be reviewed to reduce sedative drugs and minimize interactions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTVisual and auditory screening
Patients will go through visual and auditory screening as part of their regular care
Sponsors
Sword Health, SA
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Patients aged over 65 years old 2. Ability to walk at least 20 meters, unaided or with unilateral support 3. Ability to understand motor complex commands 4. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \> 24 points 5. Functional independence for instrumental activities of daily living 6. Risk of recurrent falls, defined as 5xSST score \> 15,00 seconds
Exclusion criteria
1. Patients residing in nursing homes, daycare units or assisted-living facilities 2. Aphasia, dementia or psychiatric comorbidity, significantly interfering with communication or compliance with a home-based exercise program 3. Severe visual our hearing, interfering with communication or with compliance to a home-based exercise program 4. Cardiac, respiratory or other condition incompatible with at least 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity 5. Osteoarticular conditions (e.g. severe osteoarthrosis), which prevent the patient from complying with a home-based exercise program 6. Patients with neurologic conditions (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease) 7. Other medical complications, which prevent the patient from complying with a home-based exercise program 8. Illiteracy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the 5 Times Sit to Stand Test | Baseline; week 4; week 8; week 12 and then week 24 | The 5 Times Sit to Stand Test is a performance test that measures the strength and the lower limb mobility. It consists of the time it takes to stand up from a chair five consecutive times. A cutoff value of 15 seconds is used to distinguish between individuals with and without risk of recurrent falls |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the Timed Up and Go Test score | Baseline; week 4; week 8; week 12 and then week 24 | The TUG is a performance test that assesses the mobility, balance and gait in elderly individuals, consisting of the time it takes to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, come back and sit down again. |
| Change in the Berg Balance Scale | Baseline; week 4; week 8; week 12 and then week 24 | The Berg Balance Scale was developed to evaluate the static and dynamic balance in three domains: sitting, standing and changing posture. It is a scale composed of 14 items graded by an external observer on 5 levels (from 0 to 4). Scale scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores representing a higher level of functionality. |
| Change in the Shorts Falls Efficacy Scale-International | Baseline; week 4; week 8; week 12 and then week 24 | The Shorts Falls Efficacy Scale-International was developed in order to systematize on a scale the fear of falling. It is a questionnaire of 7 items filled by the user, evaluating from 1 to 4 the fear of falling during the execution of a series of activities of daily living. It is a standardized and comparable measure over time, which provides an additional dimension in the characterization of participants. The cutoff levels are: low fear (7-8); moderate fear (9-13) and high fear (14-28). |
Countries
Portugal
Contacts
Primary ContactFernando Correia, MD
Backup ContactMariana Sant'Ana, MD
Outcome results
None listed