Clinical Trials Directory

Trials / Completed

CompletedNCT03921619

Sling Use and Functional Mobility in a Geriatric Population

Impact of Sling Use on Functional Mobility in a Geriatric Population

Status
Completed
Phase
N/A
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50 (actual)
Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham · Academic / Other
Sex
All
Age
65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted

Summary

Shoulder slings are commonly worn after shoulder surgery. In geriatric patients, painstaking care is taken to reduce any factors that may increase the chance of experiencing a fall. Currently, it is not understood if wearing a sling affects someone's general gait and balance.

Detailed description

Following many shoulder operations, patients are immobilized in an bulky sling with non-weight bearing restrictions for periods of up to 6 weeks. This is necessary to allow for soft tissue healing particularly following repair of rotator cuff tears and shoulder replacement surgeries, two common procedures performed in the elderly population. Previous studies have shown that natural arm swing plays an essential role in maintaining balance and normal gait patterns. Decreased functional mobility and gait impairment has been shown to increase the risk of falls, mortality, and morbidity in an elderly population. However, following upper extremity surgery requiring the use of a sling, targeted therapy for gait and balance training is rarely prescribed. Consequently, the investigators wish to assess whether or not sling use impacts functional mobility test scores in an elderly population. The aim of this project is to maximize perioperative functionality in these patients in efforts to prevent any unanticipated secondary injury.

Conditions

Interventions

TypeNameDescription
DEVICEShoulder Slingsoft shoulder sling that is placed around the forearm, with a strap draped over the shoulder

Timeline

Start date
2020-02-15
Primary completion
2021-07-31
Completion
2021-10-30
First posted
2019-04-19
Last updated
2021-11-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT03921619. Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement.