The Senior Step Study investigates whether feedback given by a mobility feedback device in combination with an instruction book containing every day exercises, motivates elderly to exercise more. By exercising more participants take charge of their own mobility and fall risk. Senior Step Study studies whether this 'exercising more' positively affects their mobility, fall risk, mental wellbeing, self-management, and quality of life.
Falling is an important problem among community-dwelling elderly. The number of falls and concomitant health costs will rise within an aging population. Fall related injuries and fear of falling decrease mobility and have a negative impact on social functioning, mood, wellbeing and autonomy. Research from a medical perspective has concentrated on case finding and fall prevention. Currently, insufficient possibilities are available for elderly and caregiver to asses and improve their own mobility and fall risk. The Senior Step Study aims to provide a tool for elderly to improve their self-management abilities in monitoring and improving mobility and fall risk. The researchers expect that elderly in the intervention group will be more aware of their own mobility and fall risk, and will therefore experience more autonomy, better mental wellbeing, and better quality of life. We expect this to reflect in less demands made on healthcare by the elderly. 150 elderly living at home, in a home for the elderly, and elderly who regularly attend activities in a community home, are asked to participate in the study. During the six months of the study, subjects will receive weekly telephone calls from the computerized falls telephone. The intervention group will measure their normal gait speed measured over 4 meters, using the mobility feedback device once a week, and use the feedback given by this mobility feedback device to perform exercises from the instruction book. Activity diaries allow them to register the type and duration of the exercises.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
150
Weekly use of the mobility feedback device to measure gait speed. Two infrared sensors will be placed in the line of walking, a photo frame containing a display, symbols and lights will tell the participant when and how to perform the test. Gait speed is shown on the display and will serve as feedback to the participant. Participant can use their gait speed to decide which exercises from the instruction book he performs. Participants will be asked to keep an activity diary.
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Mental wellbeing
Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-20)
Time frame: Baseline to 3 months
Number of falls
Computerized falls telephone system
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
Self-management
Self-Management Ability Scale (SMAS-30)
Time frame: Baseline to 3 months, baseline to 6 months
Physical activity
LASA Physical Activity Questionnaire (LAPAQ)
Time frame: Baseline to 3 months, baseline to 6 months
Fear of falling
Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I)
Time frame: Baseline to 3 months, baseline to 6 months
Balance and mobility
Short Physical Perfomance Battery, Timed Up and Go
Time frame: Baseline to 3 months, baseline to 6 months
Mental Wellbeing
Medical Outcomes Study (MOS-20)
Time frame: Baseline to 6 months
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