Visual Feedback to Improve Balance During Walking

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this research is to determine if real time visual feedback of body movements improves balance control more than walking on a treadmill alone. Individuals participating in this research study will be tested using a battery of clinical strength and balance assessments twice before a 4 week training period and once after the training period. The 4 week training period will consist of 12 sessions walking on a treadmill. The experimental group will see real time visual feedback regarding their body movements, and the control group will not receive this visual feedback. Following the 4 week training each participant will again be tested using the battery of clinical strength and balance assessments.

Official Title
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Sensory Treadmill to Improve of Balance During Walking

Conditions
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Other Fall, Patient Falls

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Treadmill Walking
* Other: Visual Feedback


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Fall Prone Older Adults (history of falls or loss of balance) ability to walk on the treadmill hands-free without assistance Mini-Mental Status Exam > 23 Exclusion Criteria: Current enrollment in physical rehabilitation of any kind Medically unstable

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Walking & Visual Feedback<br>Individuals in this arm will walk on a treadmill while viewing real time visual feedback regarding their body motions and use the visual feedback to correct their body motions. | Procedure: Treadmill Walking<br>* Individuals will walk at a comfortable speed on a treadmill without holding on to the hand rails.<br>Other: Visual Feedback<br>* Real time feedback regarding body motion while walking.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Walking & No Visual Feedback<br>Individuals in this arm will walk on a treadmill without viewing real time visual feedback regarding their body motion. | Procedure: Treadmill Walking<br>* Individuals will walk at a comfortable speed on a treadmill without holding on to the hand rails.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from Baseline in BESTest Score, A clinical assessment of balance | Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest) | Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 
| Change from Baseline in Berg Balance Test Score |  | Test will be given at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 
| Change from Baseline in Activity Specific Balance Confidence Score | Questionnaire rating balance confidence | Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 
| Change from Baseline in 6 Minute Walk Test |  | Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 
| Change from Baseline in Comfortable Walking Speed | This value is determined for each training session | Measured daily, up to 12 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from Baseline in Muscle Strength | Strength of major muscles in the legs and trunk will be measured | Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 
| Change from Baseline in Overground Walking Speed |  | Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 
| Change from Baseline in Center of Mass variability | This measure is derived from recorded body position during each training repetition for each of up to 12 days of training. | Tested daily, up to 12 days | 
| Change from Baseline in Power spectral density | This measure is derived from recorded body position during each training repetition for each of up to 12 days of training. | Tested daily, up to 12 days | 
| Change from Baseline in Single/Dual Tasking ability |  | Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Balance Training, Walking, Falls