The goal of this research is to determine if real time visual feedback of body movements improves balance control more than walking on a treadmill alone. Individuals participating in this research study will be tested using a battery of clinical strength and balance assessments twice before a 4 week training period and once after the training period. The 4 week training period will consist of 12 sessions walking on a treadmill. The experimental group will see real time visual feedback regarding their body movements, and the control group will not receive this visual feedback. Following the 4 week training each participant will again be tested using the battery of clinical strength and balance assessments.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
Individuals will walk at a "comfortable speed" on a treadmill without holding on to the hand rails.
Real time feedback regarding body motion while walking.
Collington Episcopal Life Care Community
Mitchellville, Maryland, United States
Pearson Hall, Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Change from Baseline in BESTest Score, A clinical assessment of balance
Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest)
Time frame: Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in Berg Balance Test Score
Time frame: Test will be given at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in Activity Specific Balance Confidence Score
Questionnaire rating balance confidence
Time frame: Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in 6 Minute Walk Test
Time frame: Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in Comfortable Walking Speed
This value is determined for each training session
Time frame: Measured daily, up to 12 days
Change from Baseline in Muscle Strength
Strength of major muscles in the legs and trunk will be measured
Time frame: Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in Overground Walking Speed
Time frame: Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
Change from Baseline in Center of Mass variability
This measure is derived from recorded body position during each training repetition for each of up to 12 days of training.
Time frame: Tested daily, up to 12 days
Change from Baseline in Power spectral density
This measure is derived from recorded body position during each training repetition for each of up to 12 days of training.
Time frame: Tested daily, up to 12 days
Change from Baseline in Single/Dual Tasking ability
Time frame: Tested at 0, 4, and 8 weeks
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