Robotic-Assisted System in Enhancing Balance, Postural Stability, Functional Gait and Fall Efficacy in Older Adults (ROB-BST)

Gulf Medical University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Balance; Geriatric; Aged Healthy Volunteer; Aged; Fall Risk, Fall Prevention

Treatments: Other: Balance and Mobility Exercise; Device: Hunova Robotic-Assisted System

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06973460

IRB-COHS-STD-96-Nov-2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

Our study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a more individualized and personalized feedback-oriented approach using the Hunova Robotic Systems. This system is tailored to specific needs of individuals and is dynamically adjustable relative to patients' balance and functional demands. It will be compared to Traditional Balance and Mobility Exercise which are more generalized. Given the generalized nature of Traditional approaches, we aim to compare it with the Hunova Robotic Systems in the enhancement of Balance, Postural Stability, Functional Gait and Fall Efficacy in older adults.

Full description

Aging comes with increased risk of fall and a steep decline in adequate motor functioning, as such due to the decline in proprioception, balance and general functional independence the risk of falls and injury is high in aging adults impacting quality of life.

Traditional approaches like the Otago Exercise Programmes (and other Balance and Mobility exercise protocols) have been relatively effective in the management of falls yet there's a remarkable and persistent increase in fall rates, postural instability and functional gait limitations in older adults largely due to the generalized nature of these protocols. The limitations of these traditional approaches in individualizing treatment protocols created a need for advanced and more dynamic systems that can fill this gap and/or complement these traditional approaches.

Modern Technology, including Hunova Robotic systems are novel approaches that seek to solve these limitations by tailoring interventions to patients' needs creating real time feedback mechanisms assisting in intervention prescriptions and analysis. The preciseness of these modern systems assist in creating integrated systems that enhance organization of these interventions improving overall outcomes.

Literature supporting the use of the Hunova Robotic System on Fall efficacy, postural stability and functional gait is very limited, necessitating a need for studies comparing the effectiveness of this technology on these components compared to Traditional Balance and Mobility Exercise Protocols. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of Movendo's Hunova in improving fall efficacy, postural stability and functional gait in older adults and in general geriatric rehabilitation. With the increased emphasis on robotic-assisted rehabilitation due to its accuracy, individualized patient focused design and feedback mechanisms, the study becomes all the more imperative.

This Research attempts to compare the Hunova Robotic System on Fall Efficacy, Functional Gait and postural stability with traditional balance and Mobility Exercise Protocols.

Enrollment: 36 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 60 years old to 85 years old - young to Old Individuals.
• Mini Mental Scale Examination Score > 24.
• Able to walk independently with and without mild assistance (Berg's Balance Score between 35 and 45)

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to understand and follow instructions.
• History of vestibular dysfunction.
• Any severe Musculoskeletal problems restricting mobility.
• Current Physiotherapy training or balance exercises focusing on proprioception or fall risk.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Robotic Assisted Group Using the Hunova Movendo Robotic Device.

Experimental group

Description:

Balance Training on Robotic Assisted System: Bipodalic Stance: On Static platform; Elastic Platform, Fluid platform, Wobble Base, Balance on variable counter resistance platform, Sagittal Lunges. Monopodalic (Left \& Right): On Static platform; Elastic Platform, Fluid platform, Wobble Base, Balance on variable counter resistance platform, Isometric Ankle. Strengthening: Balance on Counter-resistance platform, raises, Ping Pong on Elastic platform, Bipodalic Sit to Stand Mobility and Gait: Bipodalic Stance: Balance on Elastic Platform, Balance on Fluid Platform, Balance on Proprioceptive Platform, Balance on Linear PAssive Combined Passive platform, Balance on Passive Spiral Base. In addition: Stair walking on standardized stairs. Rest Period: 5 mins incorporated in between intervention. Duration : 45 minutes/day Frequency: 2 days per week for a period of 12 weeks

Treatment:

Device: Hunova Robotic-Assisted System

Balance and Mobility Exercises derived from Otago Exercise Programme.

Active Comparator group

Description:

* Strengthening Training: * Knee Extensor * Knee Flexor * Hip Adductor * Ankle plantarflexors (calf Raises) * Ankle dorsiflexors (toe raises) * Balance Training: * Knee Bends * Backwards walking * Walking and turning around * Sideways walking * Tandem Stance (heel toe stand) * Tandem Walk (Heel toe Walk) * One Leg Stand * Heel walking * Toe Walk * Heel Toe Walking backwards * Sit to Stand * Stair walking Rest Period: 5mins incorporated in-between intervention. Duration : 45 minutes/day Frequency: 2 days per week for a period of 12 weeks

Treatment:

Other: Balance and Mobility Exercise