About this trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effectiveness of perturbation-based balance training (PBT) in preventing unrecovered falls among geriatric patients aged ≥70 years with a prospective fall risk of ≥40%. The study will also assess the safety and feasibility of PBT. The main research questions are:
A total of 396 participants will receive 9 training sessions of either PBT or conventional treadmill training and will attend an assessment before and after the intervention, as well as 6 and 12 months follow up. Falls will be documented throughout the entire study period using calendars, telephone interviews, and proxy information. The primary outcome, unrecovered falls, will be recorded after the end of the intervention until 12 months follow up.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
≥ 70 years
≥40% prospective fall risk for the following year according to the Fall Risk Assessment Tool (FRAT-up)
Walking distance ≥ 70 m in the 2 Minute Walk Test
Possibility to reach the study site at least via taxi
Disqualifiers
MoCA score < 10 pts (or MMSE < 17 pts)
Performing a Timed up and Go test (TUG) <10 s
Leg amputation
Osteosynthesis or joint replacement of lower extremities within the past 6 weeks.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Conventional Treadmill Walking (CTT)
- Perturbation-Based Balance Training (PBT)
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
University of Oldenburg
Lead sponsor
Marienhospital Herne
Collaborator
University of Ulm
Collaborator
University of Konstanz
Collaborator
University Hospital, Aachen
Collaborator
Robert Bosch-Krankenhaus Stuttgart
Collaborator
University Hospital Heidelberg
Collaborator
Technische Hochschule Ulm
Collaborator