Task-Specific Balance Training to Reduce Falls in Older Adults Compared to Treadmill and Conventional Balance Training

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of a new task-specific balance training program designed to reduce falls caused by environmental disturbances in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 90 who are at risk of falling. The study compares this novel training with treadmill perturbation training and conventional balance exercises to see which approach better improves balance control and lowers fall risk. Falls are a major concern for older adults, often leading to serious injuries and repeated falls, so this research aims to find a practical, effective intervention that addresses both reactive and voluntary balance control. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups task-specific balance training, treadmill perturbation training, or conventional balance training. Each group completes 16 sessions over 8 weeks, attending two training sessions per week. The task-specific training includes functional tasks and predictable perturbations related to slips and trips. Treadmill training involves exposure to slip-like and trip-like perturbations on a motorized treadmill, while conventional training focuses on standard balance exercises. This design allows comparison of the new intervention to existing methods. Participants undergo a pre-training balance assessment, then post-training assessments immediately after the 8-week program and again 18 months later. For 18 months following training, they wear physical activity monitors to track real-life falls. Researchers measure reactive stability, limb support, laboratory falls, gait function, and balance confidence. This long-term monitoring helps assess both immediate and lasting effects of the training on fall prevention and balance control.

Aging and Task-specific Training to Reduce Falls