NCT04078529

Falls Prevention for Visually Impaired Older People

Efficacy of a Tailored Exercise Programme and Home Evaluation for Falls Prevention in Older People With a Visual Impairment

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Blind Veterans UK · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an intensive five day falls prevention training programme with a home evaluation and a home exercise programme, compared with a home evaluation and exercise programme alone for reducing incidence of falls and fear of falling, and improving confidence in functional ability and objective balance.

Detailed description

While previous research shows a clear link between visual impairment and increased risk and incidence of falls, as well as fear of falling, there is little research to investigate the effectiveness of falls prevention programmes for visually impaired populations. At the time of writing there were no studies identified that used this type of intensive training over a period of several days, rather most of the studies that exist have been conducted in community settings. This study will aim to compare the effectiveness of a comprehensive exercise programme aimed at improving balance, walking technique, postural control and ability to complete functional tasks, with a home exercise programme with either written or audio instructions.

Conditions

• Accidental Fall
• Visual Impairment
• Fall

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	5 day falls prevention training	Intensive training on balance, gait re-education, functional activities, backwards chaining and postural control, completed at 0 and 12 weeks.
OTHER	Home exercise programme	A modified version of the Falls Management Exercise programme (FaME) provided in written or audio format and completed over 12 weeks.
OTHER	Environmental Assessment	Use of the Homefast assessment tool to reduce risk of falls at home.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-01-01
• Primary completion: 2020-12-01
• Completion: 2021-03-01
• First posted: 2019-09-06
• Last updated: 2019-09-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom