Minimizing Fall-Related Injury in Older Adults: a Motor Learning Approach
Fall Injury, Fall Patients, Mobility Limitation
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Fall Injury focused on measuring Falls, Physical Therapy, Injury Prevention
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Have balance impairment as indicated by <10s on unipedal stance
- History of fall injury in the last year; or, two more falls in the last year; or, afraid of falling because of problems with balance or walking
- Have no history of tumbling, gymnastic or martial art experience or currently engagement of 150+ minutes/week of vigorour aerobic activity
- No clinical osteoporosis
- DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) determined bone mineral density of the hip of t is greater than or equal to -2.3
Exclusion Criteria:
- Outside of age range
- Unable to speak or comprehend written/spoken English
- Cognitive impairment as indicated by Saint Louis University Memory Scale (<25)
- Unable to ambulate household distances
- Intact standing balance as indicated by >10s of unipedal stance
- Currently receiving physical therapy
- Presence of clinical osteoporosis
- Uncorrected vision or hearing or vestibular dysfunction
- Major neurological conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson's Disease, vertigo that affect the ability to ambulate or perform daily tasks
- Currently taking medications, including, coumadin, dual oral anticoagulants (apixaban, rivaroxaban), lovenox
- Conditions may lead to (internal) bleeding, such as thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic diathesis
Sites / Locations
- Emma EellsRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Experimental
Otago Group
FAST Group
The control group will receive balance exercises adapted from the evidenced-based Otago Exercise program. Briefly, all eight sessions (~30 min) will involve balance exercises and strength exercises using ankle weights, and will progressively increase as performance improves by increasing resistance or the difficulty of the balance exercises (e.g., reducing base of support).
Participants randomized to the intervention arm will undergo the FAST program, a progressive safe-falling training based on the tuck and roll strategy. As part of the FAST program, participants will train 30 minutes twice a week for a period of four weeks under the supervision of a trained researcher. Participants will wear protective gear (knee, hip, head) and they will complete a 10-minute stretching exercise routine to minimize the risk of injury.