Graded Motor Imagery and Fall Risk in Older Adults (GMI)

St. Ambrose University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Balance; Fall Risk

Treatments: Procedure: Graded Motor Imagery

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05715112

StAmbroseU GMI fall risk

Details and patient eligibility

About

To determine if there is any carry over effect of sensation training for the feet, officially called Graded Motor Imagery (GMI), will impact balance and fall risk factors in older individuals. This will be looked at to see if there is a difference in balance and sensation before and right after the training.

Full description

In order to increase acuity of body maps, various tactile and movement-based strategies have been recommended and supported for research focusing on sensory discrimination. Current evidence, specific to painful conditions related to altered cortical mapping, have shown growing evidence in reducing pain and disability. In regards to it's ability to alter foot pain in older adults and decreasing fall risk, prior conference case study and case series presentations have suggested potential clinical benefit, but it has not been formally studied. The aim of this study is to determine if a sensory discrimination training for feet in older adults can alleviate pain, improve sensory discrimination, and also decrease fall risk. Specifically, does a 20 minute training session improve pain, balance (Brief-BEST test), and sensory discrimination in individuals over 65 years of age. Secondary analysis may exam characteristics that best identify those who benefit from this training.

Enrollment: 42 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Be able to read and understand English
• Be over the age of 65
• Be independent with ambulation (with or without an assistive device)
• Not have any skin condition or injury to the plantar or dorsal part of the foot
• Have the visual ability to view images on a tablet to partake in a test

Exclusion criteria

• No existing skin conditions on the bottom of the foot that would impair sensation
• No current injury to the plantar or dorsal side of the foot
• No prior surgery or major injury to the plantar or dorsal side of the foot
• Lacking sensation in the foot
• Unable to read and understand English
• Lacking ability to view images on a tablet to partake in a test
• Unable to ambulate (with or without an assistive device)

Trial design

42 participants in 1 patient group

Experimental group

Description:

A convenience sample of older adults (65 and older).

Treatment:

Procedure: Graded Motor Imagery