In this study we will use the BalRoom and the Radboud Falls Simulator to investigate the hypothesis that reduced balance capacity in elderly is related to deficient sensory and motor systems involved in balance control.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
geen, alle deelnemers zijn gezonde ouderen en jongeren. Echter, de helft van de geïncludeerde ouderen heeft een valhistorie, maar is wel gezond.
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main parameter to assess balance capacity is stepping threshold which is
defined as the highest platform acceleration that can be overcome with a
feet-in-place response. The main parameters to assess the sensorimotor
mechanisms involved in balance control the frequency response functions, which
quantify 1) the gain or magnitude of the response to the perturbation and 2)
the phase lag between the response and the perturbation.
Secondary outcome
The secundary parameter to assess balance capacity is limit-of-stability which
is defined as the highest platform acceleration that can be overcome with a
maximum of one step. The secondary parameters to investigate sensorimotor
mechanisms are obtained with a mathematical balance control model, which was
developed at the University of Twente, en which will be fitted on the frequency
response functions with optimization algorithms. The most important secondary
parameters that will be estimated are: passive stiffness, passive damping,
active stiffness, active damping, neural time delay and sensory reweighting
factor for proprioceptive visual and vestibular information.
Background summary
Falling in elderly often leads to severe injuries such as fractures. The
capacity to restore balance in response to an internal or external perturbation
is essential to prevent falls in daily life situations. This balance capacity
can be assessed using the Radboud Falls Simulator. However, sensorimotor
impairments and compensatory mechanisms underlying reduced balance capacity are
interrelated and poorly understood. The BalRoom can be used to unravel these
complex sensorimotor interrelations by applying continuous sensory and
mechanical perturbations while also recording the body*s response.
Study objective
In this study we will use the BalRoom and the Radboud Falls Simulator to
investigate the hypothesis that reduced balance capacity in elderly is related
to deficient sensory and motor systems involved in balance control.
Study design
Cross-sectional measurement design.
Study burden and risks
Included subjects will undergo an intake, consisting of several questionnaires
and clinical balance tests. This intake is followed by a balance assessment
with the Radboud Falls Simulator to assess balance capacity and a balance
assessment with the BalRoom device to identify the sensory and motor systems
involved in balance control with small visual scene rotations, support surface
rotations and/or push-pull perturbations at hip and shoulder level. During both
balance assessments participants will wear a safety harness to prevent falling.
Further risks of physical injury are negligible. The total duration of the
intake and the two balance assessments will be 3 to 4 hours. Participants do
not have a direct benefit from this study. Their participation will contribute
to improved identification of potential fallers and improved diagnosis of
patients with balance disorders.
Drienerlolaan 5
Enschede 7522NB
NL
Drienerlolaan 5
Enschede 7522NB
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- Elderly: Age 65 years and older
o Elderly with history of falls: reporting at least one fall in the past year
o Elderly without history of falls: reporting no fall in the past year
- Healthy young: Age between 18 and 30 years
- Ability to stand for at least 5 consecutive minutes
- Able to walk independently or under supervision as indicated by a score of 4 on the Functional Ambulations Category (FAC)
- Able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
- Orthopaedic problems, including recent fractures which are currently not completely healed, history of hip or knee replacement, or limb amputation
- Neurological disorders, including stroke, Parkinson*s disease and traumatic brain injury
- Back pain: Participants with past or current back pain resulting from intervertebral disc herniation, spondylolisthesis/ spondylolistholysis or (osteoporotic) vertebral fracture will be excluded. Participants with a history of non-specific low back pain will be excluded if they currently experience pain
- Visual impairments, including cataract. Participants who wear glasses or contact lenses to correct for myopia (short-sightedness) or hyperopia (far-sightedness) will not be excluded.
- Inability to follow simple verbal instructions as indicated by a score < 4 on the Utrecht Communication Observation Scale.
- Any medical condition in which exercise is contra-indicated.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL52632.044.15 |