Clinical trial NCT05596110: TENS and Taping for Older People
Official title: Acute Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Kinesio Taping on Lower Limb Joint Proprioception, Static Standing Balance, Limits of Stability and Functional Balance Performance in Community-dwelling Older Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Postural
Defect
Lead sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-10-27
Enrollment: 24
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Maximum age (years): 75
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Aim: To examine the acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and Kinesio Taping (KT) on lower limb joint proprioception, static standing balance, limits of stability and functional balance performance in community-dwelling older adults.

Design: A one-group experimental study with a repeated-measures design. Sample: 24+ community-dwelling older adults Interventions: TENS and KT, TENS and sham taping, KT and sham TENS, and sham TENS and sham taping (30 minutes each) Major outcomes: Outcomes will be evaluated during each of the intervention conditions. Lower limb joint active repositioning error will be evaluated using a joint position sense test; a force platform will be used to assess the single-leg standing body sway path length and velocity; a functional reach test will give a score that reflects the limits of stability of the participants; and the timed up-and-go test will be used to quantify functional balance performance of the participants.

Anticipated results and significance: It is predicted that both TENS and KT, when applied together, may best improve lower limb joint proprioception and facilitate all balance performances among the community-dwelling older adults. These interventions could be applied in clinical settings to improve joint proprioception and postural control of the elderly people.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria:

* Between 60 and 75 years old
* Able to ambulate independently and safely without using any walking aid
* Able to follow instructions

Exclusion criteria:

* Known unstable medical condition (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension)
* Known sensorimotor or neurological disorders (e.g., stroke and epilepsy)
* Significant musculoskeletal disorder of the lower limbs (e.g., osteoarthritis of the knee)
* Cognitive disorder
* Presence of an implanted electrical device (e.g., cardiac pacemaker)
* Cancer
* A change in skin sensation
* Wound around the lower limb joints
* A recent injury that may affect test performance
* Allergy to adhesive tapes

Primary outcomes:
measure: Joint active repositioning test error (using goniometry, in degree)
timeFrame: Day 1 to Day 4
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Center of pressure (COP) sway path length in static single-leg standing (using a force platform, in cm)
timeFrame: Day 1 to Day 4
measure: Center of pressure (COP) sway velocity in static single-leg standing (using a force platform, in m/s)
timeFrame: Day 1 to Day 4
measure: Functional Reach Test score (using a cloth measuring tape, in cm)
timeFrame: Day 1 to Day 4
measure: Timed Up-and-Go Test completion time (using a stop watch, in s)
timeFrame: Day 1 to Day 4
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: Chinese University of Hong Kong
name: Shirley SM Fong, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: