Exercise Program for Deaf Seniors to Increase Their Balance and Fitness

Gallaudet University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Deaf; American Sign Language; Old Age; Fall

Treatments: Behavioral: Balance in Motion Exercise class

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06912607

1R15AG087454-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

IRB-FY24-34

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

40 participants in 1 patient group

Single Group

Other group

Description:

Deaf older adults.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Balance in Motion Exercise class