Dual-task training combines movement with cognitive tasks to improve gait, balance, and thinking. This study will compare tele-supervised versus onsite dual-task balance training in older adults at risk of falls. Sixty participants aged 65+ will be randomly assigned to either remote or face-to-face training for 8 weeks. Both groups will follow the same program, delivered via video calls or direct supervision. Outcomes measures will include gait speed, balance, and cognition using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
The tele-supervised group will perform sessions at home through Zoom Video Communications. Training will follow a fixed-priority strategy. Sessions will last 45 minutes. Each session will include: 5 minutes warm-up, 35 minutes dual-task training, and 5 minutes cool-down.
The onsite group received the same dual-task balance training program, delivered face-to-face by a trained therapist at the physical therapy clinic, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, with a frequency and duration matched to the tele-supervised group.
Balance assessment
The most well-known balance test for evaluating adult balance and fall risk is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The 14 items on the BBS have an ordinal scale of 0 to 4, totaling 56 points; a lower score denotes a higher risk of falling. Minimal function is represented by a score of 0, and maximal function is represented by a score of 4. It takes about twenty minutes to finish. The items are evaluated from the static position with increasing difficulty by decreasing the base of support to dynamic activities (Joa, 2024). BBS is reliable and valid in older individuals (Berg et al., 1992; Şahin et al., 2008).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Gait speed
Gait speed will be measured using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). A 14-meter walkway will be used, and participants will be asked to walk at their typical pace. The time will be recorded throughout the middle 10 meters to account for acceleration and deceleration. Meters per second will be used to measure walking speed; greater numbers denote superior performance. For assessing functional mobility in older persons, the 10MWT is a viable and trustworthy tool (Önal \& Kocaman, 2025).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Cognitive function
The Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) assessed divided attention, executive function, cognitive flexibility, and visual attention. As fast as they can, participants will connect 25 circles that alternate between letters and numbers (1-A-2-B); shorter completion times indicate better performance. For older adults, TMT-B is valid and reliable (Tombaugh, 2004; Sánchez-Cubillo et al., 2009).
Time frame: 8 weeks
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