Training at the Limit of Balance Control on a Perturbation Treadmill to Prevent Unrecovered Falls in Geriatric Patients With and Without Cognitive Impairment

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how well perturbation-based balance training (PBT) works to prevent unrecovered falls in older adults aged 70 years and above who have at least a 40% risk of falling within a year. This study also evaluates the safety and feasibility of PBT. It is a confirmatory, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial that includes patients with and without cognitive impairment. The primary focus is on reducing falls where individuals cannot get up independently, with a total of 396 participants enrolled. Participants will receive nine training sessions over 3 to 6 weeks. They are randomly assigned to either the PBT group, which practices balance training on a treadmill with varying perturbations, or a control group receiving conventional treadmill walking without perturbations. Both groups train with safety harnesses and matched exercise times to ensure consistency. Assessments occur before and after the intervention phase. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for falls using calendars, phone interviews, and proxy reports for up to 12 months after training ends. Additional evaluations include mobility, balance, concerns about falling, physical activity, cognitive function, quality of life, stepping responses, and nutritional status. Follow-up assessments are conducted at 6 and 12 months after the intervention to measure outcomes and training acceptability. The entire study spans over a year, with continuous safety and progress monitoring.

Perturbation-Based Treadmill Training to Prevent Unrecovered Falls in Geriatric Patients