Sling Use and Functional Mobility in a Geriatric Population

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Shoulder slings are commonly worn after shoulder surgery. In geriatric patients, painstaking care is taken to reduce any factors that may increase the chance of experiencing a fall. Currently, it is not understood if wearing a sling affects someone's general gait and balance.

Detailed Description
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Following many shoulder operations, patients are immobilized in an bulky sling with non-weight bearing restrictions for periods of up to 6 weeks. This is necessary to allow for soft tissue healing particularly following repair of rotator cuff tears and shoulder replacement surgeries, two common procedures performed in the elderly population. Previous studies have shown that natural arm swing plays an essential role in maintaining balance and normal gait patterns. Decreased functional mobility and gait impairment has been shown to increase the risk of falls, mortality, and morbidity in an elderly population. However, following upper extremity surgery requiring the use of a sling, targeted therapy for gait and balance training is rarely prescribed. Consequently, the investigators wish to assess whether or not sling use impacts functional mobility test scores in an elderly population. The aim of this project is to maximize perioperative functionality in these patients in efforts to prevent any unanticipated secondary injury.

Official Title
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Impact of Sling Use on Functional Mobility in a Geriatric Population

Conditions
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Mobility Limitation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Shoulder Sling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Greater than or equal to 65 years of age Exclusion Criteria: Younger than 65 years of age Pre-existing cognitive impairment Pre-existing mobility impairment Pre-existing symptomatic upper or lower extremity disease

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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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants will be asked to perform two balance assessments (Tinetti Balance Scale, Get Up and Go Test) while: 1) not wearing a sling; and 2) wearing a sling on the dominant arm. Additional data will be collected regarding patient frailty with the Edmonton Frail Scale, as well as data regarding sling use and falls in the form of a questionnaire.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: No Sling<br>Participants will perform the balance tests without any added equipment. | |
| Experimental: Sling (Dominant)<br>Participants will perform the balance tests with a sling on the dominant arm. | Device: Shoulder Sling<br>* soft shoulder sling that is placed around the forearm, with a strap draped over the shoulder<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tinetti Test | Performance-oriented mobility assessment: Components are balance & gait. Patient will be seated in a hard, armless chair and be assessed for balance with all of the following: sitting balance, rising from chair, attempting to rise, immediate standing balance (first 5 sec), standing balance, balance while being nudged, balance with eyes closed, turning 360 degrees, and sitting down. Scored out of 16. The gait portion assesses hesitancy, step length & height, foot clearance, step symmetry, step continuity, path, trunk, and walking time. Scored out of 12. Total score out of 28. If score is ≤18, risk of falls is high. If score is 19-23, risk of falls is moderate. If score is ≥24, risk of falls is low. | 30 seconds | 
| Timed Up & Go Test | Timed stand, walk, and sit test to assess mobility | 30 seconds | 
| Edmonton Frail Scale | Global assessment of patient vulnerability: Domains to be assessed are cognition (clock drawing), general health status (hospitalizations in last year & describing own health), functional independence (how many ADL's require help), social support, medication use (5 or more on a regular basis, adherence to regimen), nutrition (weight loss), mood, continence, and functional performance (timed rising from chair and walking). Scored out of 17, higher scores associated with higher frailty. Scoring : 0 - 5 = Not Frail; 6 - 7 = Vulnerable; 8 - 9 = Mild Frailty; 10-11 = Moderate Frailty; 12-17 = Severe Frailty; | 1 minute | 
| Sling / Fall Questionnaire | General questions about sling use and experiencing a fall. There is no scale associated with this questionnaire. | 1 minute |