Evaluation of Balance and Gait Weight Distribution in Patients With Vertebral Column Fractures
Conditions: Vertebral Fracture, Balance, Gait, Unsteady
Sponsor: Tung Wah College

 
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REC (Final_1 March 2021) 
 
 
TUNG WAH COLLEGE 
Informed Consent Form for Adult 
 
Evaluation of Balance and Gait Weight Distribution in Patients with Vertebral 
Column Fractures 
 
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Dr. Anthony Kwok in the 
School of Medical and Health Sciences at Tung Wah College (TWC). 
 
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 
The purpose of the study is to identify the association of balance and gait weight 
distribution with fall risk in patients with vertebral column fractures. 
 
PROCEDURES 
Participants will be interviewed with a set of questionnaires regarding your functionality 
in activities in daily living, and assessed for the balance performance and gait weight 
distribution under the supervision of research assistants. This will involve a 2-hours visit 
to the College for the interview and assessments. The procedure will not be 
video-recorded / audio-recorded. 
 
POTENTIAL RISKS / DISCOMFORTS AND THEIR MINIMIZATION 
The assessments are of low impact and low risk. These will be performed under the 
supervision of a registered physiotherapist and research assistants to minimize the 
potential risks and discomforts. 
 
Participants can seek help from the registered physiotherapist and research assistants in 
case of any bad effects of the procedure. 
 
COMPENSATION FOR PARTICIPATION 
The participation is on voluntarily basis. No compensation is given for the participation. 
 
POTENTIAL BENEFITS 
This research does not provide you with personal benefits, but the data collected will 
provide valuable information for studying the vertebral column fractures. 
 
CONFIDENTIALITY 
All information obtained will be used for research purposes only. Subject will not be 
identified by name in any report of the completed study. 
 
DATA RETENTION 
All the information collected for this research will be kept confidential. Information 
collected for this research will only be accessible by the principal investigator and the 
research assistants, and will be discarded properly within 5 years after the research 
report is presented. 
 

 
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PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL 
This study follows the Declaration Helsinki. Your participation is voluntary. This means 
that you can choose to stop at any time without negative consequences. 
 
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS 
If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact Dr. 
Anthony Kwok at 852-3468 6670. If you have questions about your rights as a research 
subject, 
contact 
the 
Secretary, 
Research 
Ethics 
Committee 
(REC), 
TWC 
(ro@twc.edu.hk). 
 
 
SIGNATURE 
 
I _______________________________________________________ (Name of Subject) 
 
understand the procedures described above and agree to participate in this study. 
 
 
I ** wish / do not wish to be identified.  
 
(** Please delete as appropriate.) 
 
Signature:  
 
 
 
 
Date:   
 
 
 
 

 
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REC (Final_1 March 2021)