NCT03189342

Effects of Training on Fall Risk and Balance Performances

Effects of Dual-Task Training and Exercise-Cognitive Activity Combined Training on Fall Risk and Balance Performance in Elderly at Risk of Falls: A Randomised Controlled Trial Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (actual)
• Sponsor: Istanbul Medipol University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years – 83 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Dual task training has been shown to reduce the risk of falls more than single task training. However, there have been no studies which compared the effects of single task training, dual task training and asynchronous cognitive, balance exercise training during same day on the risk of falls among healthy older individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate differences among the effects of single task training, dual task training and exercise-cognitive activity combined training on balance and gait performances and fall risk in elderly at risk of fall.

Detailed description

The term "dual task" refers to the ability of performing 2 tasks simultaneously, for example, a cognitive and a motor task. Previous studies demonstrated that dual task training is more effective than single task training in reducing falls among elderly. These studies demonstrated that the improvements in balance and gait speed resulted in a decrease of fall frequency. Although dual task training has been shown to reduce the risk of falls more than single task training, to date, there have been no studies which compared the effects of single task training, dual task training and asynchronous cognitive, balance exercise training during same day on the risk of falls among healthy older individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate differences among the effects of single task training, dual task training and exercise-cognitive activity combined training on balance and gait performances and fall risk in elderly at risk of fall.

Conditions

• Accidental Falls

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Single task training	The participants in single task training received 30 minutes single task balance and gait exercises, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The program included static and dynamic balance exercises. Static balance exercises involved body stability (e.g., standing legs open and closed, standing with eyes closed, tandem standing, standing on foam surface and one leg standing, standing while throwing and catching a ball ), forward and backward weight shifting and keeping standing position while being disturbed by external perturbation. Dynamic balance exercises included tandem walking, walking to different direction (backward, side to side), transfer activities (from 1 chair to another) and sit to stand 5 times
BEHAVIORAL	dual task training	The participants practiced 30 minutes balance and gait exercises while simultaneously performing cognitive tasks. The program included static and dynamic balance exercises. Static balance exercises involved body stability, forward and backward weight shifting and keeping standing position while being disturbed by external perturbation. Dynamic balance exercises included tandem walking, walking to different direction, transfer activities and sit to stand 5 times. The participants practiced cognitive tasks while simultaneously performing balance and gait exercises. The cognitive tasks included visual attention, auditory attention, planning, verbal fluency, simple mental math and maze activities. At each week, participants performed different type of activities which were designed to foster the executive functions: (1) Visual and auditory attention, (2) Planning and verbal fluency, (3) Simple math problems (4) Visual and auditory attention, planning, verbal fluency, math problems
BEHAVIORAL	exercise-cognitive activity combined training	The participants first practiced 30 min of cognitive activities then performed 30 min of balance and gait exercises after 5 min of resting.The program included static and dynamic balance exercises. Static balance exercises involved body stability, forward and backward weight shifting and keeping standing position while being disturbed by external perturbation. Dynamic balance exercises included tandem walking, walking to different direction, transfer activities and sit to stand 5 times. The cognitive tasks included visual attention, auditory attention, planning, verbal fluency, simple mental math and maze activities. At each week, participants performed different type of activities which were designed to foster the executive functions: (1) Visual and auditory attention, (2) Planning and verbal fluency, (3) Simple math problems (4) Visual and auditory attention, planning, verbal fluency, math problems.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-01-01
• Primary completion: 2016-10-01
• Completion: 2016-11-01
• First posted: 2017-06-16
• Last updated: 2017-06-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)