Older Adult Traditional Balance Training vs Traditional Balance Training Plus Neck Strengthening

Ohio University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Fall Injury Prevention; Aging; At Fall Risk

Treatments: Other: Neck Strengthening Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07503899

IRB-FY26-126

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study promotes greater understanding of factors impacting balance and how neck strength alters specific aspects of impaired balance. This study will help physical therapist protocols target a wholistic approach to treat fall risk individuals.

Full description

This study will use an interventional neck strengthening exercises along with physical therapist standard of care for balance for community dwelling older adults at fall risk.

The study has three aims: (1) evaluate the effects of a 6-week neck strengthening intervention on sensorimotor function in community-dwelling older adults at risk for falls, (2) examine the impact of neck strengthening on functional mobility and clinical balance performance, and (3) determine the effect of neck strengthening on psychosocial outcomes related to fall risk.

Enrollment: 110 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 65 + for age appropriate for Medicare-based guidelines
• No previous upper cervical spine surgery
• Intracranial bleed within the last 6 months
• No recent orthopedic surgical intervention or injury that limits weight-bearing capacity on one side in the past 6 months
• Able to stand for at least 30 seconds without any sort of upper-extremity assistance

Exclusion criteria

• legally blind
• taking meclizine
• unable to follow simple motor commands

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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110 participants in 2 patient groups

Neck Strengthening Intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive standard of care plus neck strengthening exercises during two physical therapist visits per week for six weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Neck Strengthening Exercises

No intervention (control)

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will receive standard of care plus lower limb stretching during two physical therapist visits per week for six weeks.