Dataset Information

Effect of Treadmill Perturbation-Based Balance Training on Fall Rates in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Falls are common and the leading cause of injuries among older adults, but falls may be attenuated by the promising and time-efficient intervention called perturbation-based balance training (PBT).

Objective

To evaluate the effects of a 4-session treadmill PBT intervention compared with regular treadmill walking on daily-life fall rates among community-dwelling older adults.

Design, setting, and participants

This 12-month, assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 2021 through December 2022 in Aalborg University in Denmark. Participants were community-dwelling adults 65 years or older and were able to walk without a walking aid. Participants were randomized to either PBT (intervention group) or treadmill walking (control group). Data analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principle.

Interventions

Participants who were randomized to the intervention group underwent four 20-minute sessions of PBT, including 40 slip, trip, or mixed slip and trip perturbations. Participants who were randomized to the control group performed four 20-minute sessions of treadmill walking at their preferred speed. The 3 initial training sessions were completed within the first week, whereas the fourth session was performed after 6 months.

Main outcomes and measures

Primary outcome was the daily-life fall rates that were collected from fall calendars for the 12 months after the third training session. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of participants with at least 1 fall and recurrent falls, time to first fall, fall-related fractures, fall-related injuries, fall-related health care contacts, and daily-life slip and trip falls.

Results

A total of 140 highly functioning, community-dwelling older adults (mean [SD] age, 72 [5] years; 79 females [56%]), 57 (41%) of whom had a fall in the past 12 months, were included in this trial. Perturbation training had no significant effect on daily-life fall rate (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.78; 95% CI, 0.48-1.27) or other fall-related metrics. However, there was a significant reduction in laboratory fall rates at the posttraining assessment (IRR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.10-0.41), 6-month follow-up (IRR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.86), and 12-month follow-up (IRR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.19-0.72).

Conclusions and relevance

Results of this trial showed that participants who received an 80-minute PBT intervention experienced a statistically nonsignificant 22% reduction in daily-life fall rates. There was no significant effect on other daily-life fall-related metrics; however, a statistically significant decrease in falls was found in the laboratory setting.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04733222.

SUBMITTER: Norgaard JE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10119738 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Effect of Treadmill Perturbation-Based Balance Training on Fall Rates in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Nørgaard Jens Eg JE Andersen Stig S Ryg Jesper J Stevenson Andrew James Thomas AJT Andreasen Jane J Oliveira Anderson Souza AS Danielsen Mathias Brix MB Jorgensen Martin Gronbech MG

JAMA network open 20230403 4

<h4>Importance</h4>Falls are common and the leading cause of injuries among older adults, but falls may be attenuated by the promising and time-efficient intervention called perturbation-based balance training (PBT).<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the effects of a 4-session treadmill PBT intervention compared with regular treadmill walking on daily-life fall rates among community-dwelling older adults.<h4>Design, setting, and participants</h4>This 12-month, assessor-blinded randomized clinical tri ...[more]

PMID: 37079305

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionPerturbation-based balance training (PBT) targets the mechanism of falls (eg, slipping, tripping) to specifically train the recovery actions needed to avoid a fall. This task-specific training has shown great promise as an effective and efficient intervention for fall prevention in older adults. However, knowledge about the dose-response relationship of PBT, as well as its feasibility and acceptability in older adults with increased risk of falling is still limited. Thus, the aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two different treadmill PBT protocols for improving reactive balance control in fall-prone older adults, and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of these protocols.Methods and analysisThe study is designed as a pilot randomised controlled trial with a 6-week intervention and 6-week follow-up period. Thirty-six community-dwelling, fall-prone (Timed Up and Go >12 s, habitual gait speed <1.0 m/s and/or fall history) older adults will be randomised (1:1) to receive six (weeks 1-6) or two treadmill PBT sessions (weeks 1+6) plus four conventional treadmill training sessions (weeks 2-5). Training sessions are conducted 1×/week for 30 min. Each PBT will include 40 perturbations in anterior-posterior and mediolateral directions. Reactive balance after perturbations in standing (Stepping Threshold Test (STT)) and walking (Dynamic Stepping Threshold Test (DSTT)) will be assessed as the primary outcome for effectiveness. Secondary outcomes are spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters collected during STT, DSTT and PBT, maximum perturbation magnitude for each PBT session, static and dynamic balance, physical capacity, physical activity, concerns with falling and executive functions. Feasibility will be assessed via training adherence, drop-out rate, perturbations actually performed and adverse events; and acceptability via self-designed questionnaire and focus groups.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty Heidelberg (S-602/2022). Findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.Trial registration numberDRKS00030805.

Project description:IntroductionFall rates and fall-related injuries among community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) are expected to increase rapidly, due to the aging population worldwide. Fall prevention programs (FPPs), consisting of strength and balance exercises, have been proven effective in reducing fall rates among older adults. However, these FPPs have not reached their full potential as most programs are under-enrolled. Therefore, this study aims to identify promising strategies that promote participation in FPPs among community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThis is an exploratory qualitative study. Previously, barriers and facilitators for participation in FPPs by older adults had been identified. Next, six strategies had been designed using the Intervention Mapping approach: (1) reframing; (2) informing about benefits; (3) raising awareness of risks; (4) involving social environment; (5) offering tailored intervention; (6) arranging practicalities. Strategies were validated during semi-structured interviews with community-dwelling older adults (n = 12) at risk of falling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed following a qualitative thematic methodology, with a hybrid approach.ResultsAll strategies were considered important by at least some of the respondents. However, two strategies stood out: (1) reframing 'aging' and 'fall prevention': respondents preferred to be approached differently, taking a 'life course' perspective about falls, and avoiding confronting words; and (2) 'informing about benefits' (e.g., 'living independently for longer'); which was mentioned to improve the understanding of the relevance of participating in FPPs. Other strategies were considered important to take into account too, but opinions varied more strongly.DiscussionThis study provides insight into potential strategies to stimulate older adults to participate in FPPs. Results suggest that reframing 'aging' and 'fall prevention' may facilitate the dialogue about fall prevention, by communicating differently about the topic, for example 'staying fit and healthy', while focusing on the benefits of participating in FPPs. Gaining insight into the strategies' effectiveness and working mechanisms is an area for future research. This could lead to practical recommendations and help professionals to enhance older adults' participation in FPPs. Currently, the strategies are further developed to be applied and evaluated for effectiveness in multiple field labs in a central Dutch region (Utrecht).

Dataset Information

Effect of Treadmill Perturbation-Based Balance Training on Fall Rates in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance

Objective

Design, setting, and participants

Interventions

Main outcomes and measures

Results

Conclusions and relevance

Trial registration

Publications

Effect of Treadmill Perturbation-Based Balance Training on Fall Rates in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

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