Clinical trial NCT05715112: Graded Motor Imagery and Fall Risk in Older Adults
Official title: Graded Motor Imagery and Fall Risk in Older Adults: An Exploratory Study
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Balance
Fall Risk
Keywords: Graded Motor Imagery
Balance
Fall Risk
Elderly
Lead sponsor: St. Ambrose University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-02-06
Enrollment: 42
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 65
Standard ages: OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: OTHER
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: A convenience sample of older adults (65 and older) will be recruited for the study.

Brief summary: To determine if there is any carry over effect of sensation training for the feet, officially called Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), will impact balance and fall risk factors in older individuals. This will be looked at to see if there is a difference in balance and sensation before and right after the training.

Detailed description: In order to increase acuity of body maps, various tactile and movement-based strategies have been recommended and supported for research focusing on sensory discrimination. Current evidence, specific to painful conditions related to altered cortical mapping, have shown growing evidence in reducing pain and disability. In regards to it's ability to alter foot pain in older adults and decreasing fall risk, prior conference case study and case series presentations have suggested potential clinical benefit, but it has not been formally studied. The aim of this study is to determine if a sensory discrimination training for feet in older adults can alleviate pain, improve sensory discrimination, and also decrease fall risk. Specifically, does a 20 minute training session improve pain, balance (Brief-BEST test), and sensory discrimination in individuals over 65 years of age. Secondary analysis may exam characteristics that best identify those who benefit from this training.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Be able to read and understand English
* Be over the age of 65
* Be independent with ambulation (with or without an assistive device)
* Not have any skin condition or injury to the plantar or dorsal part of the foot
* Have the visual ability to view images on a tablet to partake in a test

Exclusion Criteria:

* No existing skin conditions on the bottom of the foot that would impair sensation
* No current injury to the plantar or dorsal side of the foot
* No prior surgery or major injury to the plantar or dorsal side of the foot
* Lacking sensation in the foot
* Unable to read and understand English
* Lacking ability to view images on a tablet to partake in a test
* Unable to ambulate (with or without an assistive device)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Lower extremity pain rating
timeFrame: self-reported, change from before to immediately after treatment
measure: Laterality Speed
timeFrame: tested for 60 seconds before and immediately after treatment
measure: Laterality Accuracy
timeFrame: tested for 60 seconds before and immediately after treatment
measure: Balance / fall risk
timeFrame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
measure: Nerve Sensitivity Dorsum of dominant hand
timeFrame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
measure: Nerve Sensitivity Dorsum of Right Foot
timeFrame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
measure: Nerve Sensitivity Dorsum of Left Foot
timeFrame: Assessed before and immediately after treatment
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Davenport
country: United States
facility: St. Ambrose University
state: Iowa
Study officials:
affiliation: St. Ambrose University
name: Kevin Farrell, PT, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: