Exploring the Effectiveness of Sensor-based Balance Training on Patient Outcome Measures

University of Arizona

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Diabetes; Stroke; Brain Injury; Arthritis; Multiple Sclerosis; Parkinson's Disease; Cancer; Cognitive Disorders

Treatments: Procedure: Exergame; Procedure: Home based balance training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02777060

1409482826

Details and patient eligibility

About

Explore the benefit of the game-based virtual reality system in improving lower extremity kinematics and balance in patients suffering from disease/disorders including Diabetes, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis, Parkinson's disease, Cognitive Disorders, Brain Injury, Stroke or Frailty. A four to six weeks of training with 2 training session/week will be provided.

Full description

Individuals suffering from certain disorders/diseases including diabetes, arthritis, cancer, osteoarthritis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, cognitive impairment or brain Injury are more likely to experience a fall or a fall-related injury than healthy individuals during to impaired postural stability or diminished joint perception. Under certain circumstance they may also experience pain, depression, anxiety, and a decreased quality of life. The investigators' research has been designed to provide exercise training using non-invasive body-worn sensors (similar to those used in an iPhone®) to provide real-time visual information about joint motion in a virtual environment. These sensors will be worn using a vest, t-shirt or elastic band. The investigators will, 1) assess changes in participant's perception of lower extremity position while they perform these exercises; 2) motivate and guide simple exercise performance in the clinic/home, using an interactive game-like scheme; and 3) assess changes in participant's postural stability and gait as a result of provided exercise training. The information gathered will provide new understanding about more helpful rehabilitation strategies that improve postural stability in patient population.

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of:

• diabetes
• cancer
• multiple sclerosis
• arthritis
• Parkinson's disease
• cognitive disorders
• brain injury
• frailty
• stroke

Exclusion criteria

• conditions not related to specific disorders affecting balance and gait

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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200 participants in 2 patient groups

Exergame

Experimental group

Description:

inertial sensor based system (wearable sensors, LEGSys, Biosensics LLC) will be used for balance training with computerized feedback. The balance training program is focused on lower extremities including ankle joint exercise and virtual obstacle crossing tasks.

Treatment:

Procedure: Exergame

Home based balance training

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will ask to perform a home based program includes similar exercise components as proposed in the experimental group, however without computerized feedback. Exercises include postural balance tasks, such as backward and forward weight shifting, as well as dynamic balance exercises, such as marching in place (comparable to virtual obstacle crossing in experimental group).

Treatment:

Procedure: Home based balance training