Influence of the use of indometacin on reaction time, postural balance and obstacle avoidance in healthy adolescent subjects.

A lot of (epidemiologic) research is done on causes for falls and factors
contributing to falling. Most of this research was conducted on elderly, either
community-dwelling or institutionalised. It became clear that elderly have a
greater risk at falling because of:
- physiological changes due to increasing age [Gerdhem et al., 2005]
- previous falls [Myers et al., 1991; Lipsitz et al., 1992]
- comorbidity (including RA) [Bergland et al., 2004; Gerdhem et al., 2005;
Lawlor et al., 2003]
- polypharmacy [Lawlor et al., 2003; Walker et al., 2005; Ziere et al., 2005]
and/or
- use of specific drugs like antidepressives, benzodiazepines, vasodilatators
and NSAIDs [Cumming R, 1998; Herings RMC, 2001; Kallin K et al., 2004; Granek
et al., 1987].
The relation between benzodiazepines and falling has been extensively
investigated in and affirmed by several fields of research and is practically
common sense. However, the (possible) relation between NSAIDs and falling is
much less investigated, even though there are various articles in which a
higher risk of falling when using NSAIDs is stated; sometimes the risk is even
as high as with benzodiazepines [Cumming R, 1998; Granek et al., 1987; Walker
et al., 2005].

NSAIDs are drugs that are often prescribed to patients with rheumatic or
orthopedic diseases. They seem to be at a greater risk for falls than healthy
persons because of their disease, age and medication use. Therefore it is very
important to keep this risk as small as possible. In this study healthy adults
are measured on reactiontime, postural balance and obstacle avoidance with and
without a single dose of indometacine or placebo. This is done in order to gain
more comprehension in the mechanism and actual risk for falls when using
NSAIDs.

Doubleblind placebo-controlled cross-over design.

The subjects will be measured four times for 3 hours and it will not bring them
any benefits. There is a minimal risk for side effects (especially
gastro-intestinal problems) of indometacin. Provided that these side effects
will occur anyway, they will last for a short time and will be treated
adequately by the investigator. The risk for injuries caused by the tasks is
minimal as well; falls will be prevented by means of a safety harness or
handrails.