Gait Balance, Telerehabilitation
Conditions
Brief summary
Dual-task training combines movement with cognitive tasks to improve gait, balance, and thinking. This study will compare tele-supervised versus onsite dual-task balance training in older adults at risk of falls. Sixty participants aged 65+ will be randomly assigned to either remote or face-to-face training for 8 weeks. Both groups will follow the same program, delivered via video calls or direct supervision. Outcomes measures will include gait speed, balance, and cognition using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B).
Interventions
OTHERDual-task balance training program, delivered either via real-time video conferencing
The tele-supervised group will perform sessions at home through Zoom Video Communications. Training will follow a fixed-priority strategy. Sessions will last 45 minutes. Each session will include: 5 minutes warm-up, 35 minutes dual-task training, and 5 minutes cool-down.
OTHERFace to face intervension
The onsite group received the same dual-task balance training program, delivered face-to-face by a trained therapist at the physical therapy clinic, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, with a frequency and duration matched to the tele-supervised group.
Sponsors
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* sixty literate, community-dwelling older individuals (male and female) 65 years of age or older * access to the internet at home (for participants in the tele-supervised group) * fall risk defined as a Berg Balance Scale score ˂52 (out of a total of 56 points) * at least one fall during the preceding year * as well as the capacity to walk on one's own without the need for an assistive device.
Exclusion criteria
* Participants with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, orthopedic conditions) * or severe sensory impairments that could interfere with participation or balance were excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Balance assessment | 8 weeks | The most well-known balance test for evaluating adult balance and fall risk is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The 14 items on the BBS have an ordinal scale of 0 to 4, totaling 56 points; a lower score denotes a higher risk of falling. Minimal function is represented by a score of 0, and maximal function is represented by a score of 4. It takes about twenty minutes to finish. The items are evaluated from the static position with increasing difficulty by decreasing the base of support to dynamic activities (Joa, 2024). BBS is reliable and valid in older individuals (Berg et al., 1992; Şahin et al., 2008). |
| Gait speed | 8 weeks | Gait speed will be measured using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). A 14-meter walkway will be used, and participants will be asked to walk at their typical pace. The time will be recorded throughout the middle 10 meters to account for acceleration and deceleration. Meters per second will be used to measure walking speed; greater numbers denote superior performance. For assessing functional mobility in older persons, the 10MWT is a viable and trustworthy tool (Önal \& Kocaman, 2025). |
| Cognitive function | 8 weeks | The Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) assessed divided attention, executive function, cognitive flexibility, and visual attention. As fast as they can, participants will connect 25 circles that alternate between letters and numbers (1-A-2-B); shorter completion times indicate better performance. For older adults, TMT-B is valid and reliable (Tombaugh, 2004; Sánchez-Cubillo et al., 2009). |
Contacts
CONTACTNadia M Radwan, PHD
Outcome results
None listed