The study aims at investigating the effects of an early sleep window after Action Observation Therapy (AOT) on balance in elderly. Forty-five healthy-like elderly will be enrolled and randomized into 3 groups (AOT-sleep, AOT-control and Control) performing a 3-week AOT. AOT-sleep and AOT-control will be asked to watch video-clips showing motor contents before sleeping or at least 12 hours before sleeping, respectively, whereas Control will be asked to watch landascape video-clips before sleeping. Participants will be assessed before and after training and at 1 month follow-up for balance outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
45
Action Observation Therapy implies the observation of video-clips representing motor tasks alone or followed by imagination and/or imitation of observed tasks.
Changes in Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating changes in terms of static balance
Time frame: At baseline, 3 weeks and 1 month after the training end
Changes in 10-Meter Walking Test
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating changes in terms of gait speed
Time frame: At baseline, 3 weeks of training and 1 month after the training end
Changes in Timed Up and Go Test
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating changes in terms of mobility
Time frame: At baseline, 3 weeks of training and 1 month after the training end
Changes in Four Step Square Test
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating changes in terms of dynamic balance
Time frame: At baseline, 3 weeks of training and 1 month after the training end
Changes in center of pressure parameters
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating changes in terms of postural stability
Time frame: At baseline, 3 weeks of training and 1 month after the training end
Changes in Fall Efficacy Scale
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating changes in terms of fear of falling
Time frame: At baseline, 3 weeks of training and 1 month after the training end
Pittsburg Quality Sleep Index
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating the sleep quality in the training period. The scale ranges from 0 (better outcome) to 21 points (worse outcome)
Time frame: 3 weeks
Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating the imagination ability of participants. The scale range from 0 (worse score) to 50 (better score).
Time frame: At baseline
Morningness Eveningness Scale
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating the chronotype of participants. The score ranges from 16 to 86 points. A score lower than 41 points indicates "evening types.", scores of 59 and above indicate "morning types", while scores between 42-58 indicate "intermediate types."
Time frame: At baseline
Euro Quality of Life - 5 dimensions
The outcome measure is aimed at investigating the quality of life of participants. The scale ranges from 0 (worse outcome) to 1 (better outcome).
Time frame: At baseline
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