Playware Technology for Balance Training (IMT)

Technical University of Denmark

Status: Completed

Conditions: Accidental Falls

Treatments: Device: Training on Interactive Modulare Tiles

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02496702

H-15006703

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the use of Playware technology for balance training. Falling among elder is a costly problem. Research shows that training can help prevent falls. Pilot studies of the use of Interactive Modular Tiles (IMT) show that the participants can highly increase their physical abilities.

The interventions group will train using interactive modular tiles. The tiles include preprogrammed games that create playful training for the participants.

The control group will receive "usual care", which here refers to normal day activities.

The intervention will be done 2 times a week for 12 weeks, each session lasting 1 hour and each participant receiving 13 minutes of training each time.

Full description

This study will investigate the use of one form of exergames called IMT how this compared to usual care of elderly people 70+. The trial will consist of two groups, one for training with the IMT and usual care that will receive the care provided to non-patients elderly, which at this moment is no additional treatment other than recommendations.

The study will be single blinded, randomized controlled trial. It will be funded by the patient@home project and Entertainment robotics. Concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis will be used. Measurements will be taken at baseline and after intervention. Upon acceptance the protocol will be registered in clinicaltrials.gov.

The trial's results will be reported using domains and categories described in the taxonomy developed by the Prevention of Falls Network Europe, to allow future synthesis of evidence, or study replication.

The intervention is done in the form of groups of 4-5 participants per set of tiles, with 2-3 set of tiles at a time. As more set can be used it is possible to make groups of more people. The training will consist of 1.5-3 minutes of training (depending on the game) on tiles and the rest while the other 2-3 participants train (4-6 minutes of break). Then the participants will train for 1.5-3 minutes again until each participant have received a total of 13 minutes of training.

The control group will not train.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 70+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Community-dwelling
• 70+ years

Exclusion criteria

• A previous diagnosis of strong dementia or a cognitive decline that prevents the understanding of simple instructions or guidelines;
• A previous stroke with a severe neurological impairment, such as loss of strength, and perceptual or language limitations;
• A severe visual deficiency;
• Inability to maintain a standing position, even with the use of a walking aid or other device;
• Participating in rehabilitative training.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Training

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention is done in the form of groups of 4-5 participants per set of tiles, with 2-3 set of tiles at a time. As more set can be used it is possible to make groups of more people. The training will consist of 1.5-3 minutes of training (depending on the game) on tiles and the rest while the other 2-3 participants train (4-6 minutes of break). Then the participants will train for 1.5-3 minutes again until each participant have received a total of 13 minutes of training. The intervention will be done 2 times a week for 12 weeks, each session lasting 1 hour and each participant receiving 13 minutes of training each time (see training plan).

Treatment:

Device: Training on Interactive Modulare Tiles

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

No training.