Assessing Balance Changes Following an Exercise Program Among Middle-Aged Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This graduate student research study has two purposes; the first purpose is to examine the criterion validity of the Y Balance Test (YBT) with the Limits of Stability Test (LOS) in healthy middle-aged adults. The second purpose is to examine balance changes using the YBT following a home-based exercise program.

Detailed Description
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4. Subjects will be healthy female or male middle-aged adults who are able to walk and move independently. 5. Subjects will be between 45 and 64 years of age. 6. In total, subject participation will last approximately eight weeks. Visit 1 (baseline): 90 minutes, visit 2 (week 4): 30 minutes, and visit 3 (week 8): 60 minutes. 7. Subjects will be recruited by distributing flyers in the Loma Linda Community, sending emails to school staff, students, and faculty, and word of mouth. 8. Consent will take place at Loma Linda University, Nichol Hall rooms A620 -A640 by investigators. 9. If Multi-center: N/A 10. If Single center or investigator-initiated: 70 subjects will participate in the study.

Official Title
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Assessing Balance Changes Following an Exercise Program Among Middle-Aged Adults

Conditions
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Balance Changes

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: home exercise program
* Other: non exercise program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria:• Healthy adults. Age range: 45-64 years. Able to walk and move independently Exclusion Criteria:• Dizziness, visual or neurological disorders that prevent the ability to complete the testing protocol. Lower limb injury in the last 3 months. Lower limb surgery in the last 6 months. Current involvement in a rehabilitation program.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 45 Years
Maximum Age: 64 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: Diagnostic
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: home exercise program<br>• The exercise group will follow a home exercise protocol for eight weeks: that involves standing on one foot, walking, and doing wall squats. | Other: home exercise program<br>* Subjects in the exercise group will be instructed to follow the intervention protocol for eight weeks. The intervention consists of five exercises: standing on one foot, walking heel to toe, heel walking, side kicks, and wall squats. Each exercise will be repeated three times per week for eight weeks.<br>|
| Active Comparator: non exercise group<br>• The non-exercise group will continue with their usual life style | Other: non exercise program<br>* continue usual lifestyle<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Y Balance Test | The test assesses performance during single-leg balance with a reaching task in the anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) directions to determine lower extremity movement asymmetry and balance deficits. ANT, PM, and PL are a composite measurement. | change from baseline to 4 weeks | 
| Y Balance Test | The test assesses performance during single-leg balance with a reaching task in the anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) directions to determine lower extremity movement asymmetry and balance deficits. ANT, PM, and PL are a composite measurement. | change from 4 weeks to 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| limits of stability | Limits of Stability measure five parameters: reaction time (RT), movement velocity (MVL), endpoint excursion (EPE), maximum excursion (MXE), and directional control (DC). RT, MVL, EPE, MXE, and DC are composite measures. | change from baseline to 4 weeks | 
| limits of stability | Limits of Stability measure five parameters: reaction time (RT), movement velocity (MVL), endpoint excursion (EPE), maximum excursion (MXE), and directional control (DC). RT, MVL, EPE, MXE, and DC are composite measures. | change from 4 weeks to 8 weeks |