Clinical trial NCT06912607: Exercise Program for Deaf Seniors to Increase Their Balance and Fitness
Official title: Balance and Fitness Enhancement Program for Deaf Older Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Deaf
Fall
American Sign Language
Old Age
Keywords: Exercise
Fall risk
Deaf
Senior citizen
Older adults
Lead sponsor: Gallaudet University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
First posted: 2025-04-06
Enrollment: 40
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: Deaf older adults 60 years and older are enrolled into an 8-week exercise program delivered in American Sign Language. The class meets twice a week, with handout and video homework.

Outcome measures are self-reported balance confidence, lower extremity strength, walking and agility, and standing balance. In addition, attendance and keeping up with exercises at home will be tracked.

Detailed description: The intervention will be 8 weeks of 2 meetings/wk exercise class, delivered entirely in ASL.

Homework exercise will also be provided.

10-12 participants will be recruited for each of the 4 semesters of offerings.

Physical balance as well as balance confidence will be measured prior to and immediately after the 8-week intervention. In addition, balance confidence will be measured 6-months after the conclusion of the intervention period.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Deaf
* Uses American Sign Language (ASL) fluently
* Community-dwelling
* Able to walk independently for at least 20 ft
* Willing to attend classes twice a week at Gallaudet University

Exclusion Criteria:

* Blindness
* Dementia
* Neurological conditions

Primary outcomes:
measure: Sit-to-Stand
timeFrame: 1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
measure: Timed Up-and-Go
timeFrame: 1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
measure: Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration on Balance
timeFrame: 1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
measure: Sit and Reach
timeFrame: 1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
measure: Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale
timeFrame: 1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention, 6 months after intervention
measure: Fall Risk Questionnaire
timeFrame: 1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention, 6 months after intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Attendance rate
timeFrame: During intervention
measure: Step Count
timeFrame: During intervention
measure: Effective exercise level
timeFrame: During intervention
measure: Self-reported exercise level
timeFrame: 6 months after the intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Washington
country: United States
facility: Gallaudet University
state: District of Columbia
Study officials:
affiliation: Gallaudet University
name: Chizuko Tamaki, AuD, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: