Fall Prevention in Older Adults Study

University of Arizona

Status: Completed

Conditions: Postural Balance; Accidental Fall

Treatments: Behavioral: A Matter of Balance Group; Behavioral: A Matter of Balance plus Dual-Task Balance Challenge Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03176511

RG2017-13

Details and patient eligibility

About

Poor balance is one of the major risk factors for falling in older adults. A Matter of Balance (MOB) is one of the most commonly used fall prevention programs nationally. Despite its name, MOB focuses on managing concerns about falling, and does not include a balance component. We are testing to see if adding a dual-task balance component (balance and mental thinking) to MOB can improve balance and walking better, than MOB only.

Full description

Fall prevention interventions among community-dwelling older adults are essential. A Matter of Balance (MOB) is one of the most commonly used community-based fall prevention interventions nationally, and is considered the 'fall prevention standard of care'. MOB programs are targeted to reduce the fear of falling and promote physical activity among all older community-dwelling adults. While evidence indicates that the MOB program leads to small, sustained decreases in older adults' perceived fear of falling, there is no evidence of objectively measured balance and gait. Despite its name, MOB focuses on cognitive restructuring to manage concerns about falling, and does not include a balance component. Among community-dwelling older adults, both intact balance and concomitant attention ("dual-tasking") are essential to prevent falls, and dual-task balance components are now requisite per evidence-based fall prevention intervention guidelines.

Enrollment: 17 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Community-dwelling older adults from all sex/gender and racial/ethnic groups, aged ≥ 60 years, at high fall risk (FRQ=Fall Risk Questionnaire score > 4), who live in the greater Tucson, AZ area.

Exclusion criteria

• Older adults currently attending MOB or other fall prevention classes (e.g. Fall Proof), having a severe mobility disorder (e.g., unable to walk 15 feet with an assistive device), severe visual or hearing impairment, non-English speaking, lack of decision-making capacity, unable to provide informed consent, serious psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia), moderately-severe depression (PHQ-9=Patient Health Questionnaire ≥ 15), cognitive impairment (MMSE=Mini-Mental Status Exam ≤ 23), or serious medical condition (e.g., cancer treatments).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

17 participants in 2 patient groups

MOB+DTBC Group

Experimental group

Description:

A Matter of Balance plus Dual-Task Balance Challenge Group. Standardized MOB classes twice/week for 4 weeks, plus 15 minutes of DTBC each class. Each class is 2 hours 15 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: A Matter of Balance plus Dual-Task Balance Challenge Group

MOB Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

A Matter of Balance Group. Standardized MOB classes twice/week for 4 weeks, plus 15 minutes of social time each class. Each class is 2 hours 15 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: A Matter of Balance Group