Perturbation-based gait training

The training program involves use of unpredictable, randomized perturbation in anterior-posterior direction while walking under cognitive dual-task conditions. Perturbation intensity and base walking speed will increase over a 4-week training program. The program was developed with regards to well-established principles of motor learning, such as specificity, challenging, adaption-progression and variability. Specific goals are the fall risk reduction by improving daily life gait stability and by improving reactive response to perturbation in means of faster recovery of balance to be able to resist a balance loss with resulting fall and to continue walking.
A randomized controlled trial will be performed to evaluate the efficacy of this gait training program. A total of 70 community-dwelling older adults with either a history of falls and/or difficulties with mobility and balance will be assigned to either the experimental group with gait perturbations or a control group. Before and after the intervention daily life gait stability will be tested with one week of accelerometry as well as performance on clinically often used balance and gait tests.

Perturbation-based gait training improves dynamic stability and reactive responses in daily life in older adults. Therefore, the risk of falling can be reduce by training.

The measurements are done at baseline and post-intervention. Data will be recorded continuously over the training period.

The perturbation-based gait training programme is a 4-week reactive gait training on a treadmill, with simulated slips and trips, in combination with cognitive dual tasks. The control intervention is a conventional 4-week training treadmill under cognitive dual task conditions.