Improving Balance in Frail Elderly

Sponsor

McGill University (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT00785746

Collaborator

(none)

Enrollment

Location

Arms

Duration (Months)

1.5

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The objective of this pilot study is to estimate, for a frail elderly population, the extent to which balance improves following a Core-Strength training program in comparison to a Stretch & Strength program. A secondary objective is to explore the impact of core strength training on urinary incontinence.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Elderly Frail	Other: Core	Early Phase 1

Detailed Description

Participants will be randomized to one of the two exercise groups, Core-Strength training group or the Stretch & Strength group. The exercises will consist of 15-20 minute session for every day they attend the GDH. Measures will be made at admission, after 6 weeks of the program and at discharge if more than past 6 weeks.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

60 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Parallel Assignment

Masking:

Single (Outcomes Assessor)

Official Title:

Improving Balance in Frail Elderly: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Two Methods to Enhance Strength (Stretch and Strength Versus Core Strength)

Study Start Date :

Aug 1, 2006

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2009

Actual Study Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: core strength training of the core muscles.	Other: Core We have devised a series of core strength training exercises that can be easily and safely performed under the supervision of trained staff. The exercises will be individualized depending on the participants' ability and health conditions. The majority, but not all, of exercises will be performed on or with exercise balls of different sizes and shapes, round for more advanced persons and oval for more frail persons.
No Intervention: stretch and strength This program consists of general stretching exercises and peripheral muscle strengthening exercises with a special emphasis on strengthening the upper extremity muscles because of their importance for ADL but not necessarily balance.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: core

strength training of the core muscles.

Other: Core

We have devised a series of core strength training exercises that can be easily and safely performed under the supervision of trained staff. The exercises will be individualized depending on the participants' ability and health conditions. The majority, but not all, of exercises will be performed on or with exercise balls of different sizes and shapes, round for more advanced persons and oval for more frail persons.

No Intervention: stretch and strength

This program consists of general stretching exercises and peripheral muscle strengthening exercises with a special emphasis on strengthening the upper extremity muscles because of their importance for ADL but not necessarily balance.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Berg balance scale [baseline, 6 weeks, discharge]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Functional walking capacity 6 minute walk test [baseline, 6 weeks, discharge]
Gait speed [baseline, 6 weeks, discharge]
Bridge Test [Baseline, 6 weeks, discharge]
Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale) [Baseline, 6 weeks, Discharge]
International Consultation on Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire- Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI) [Baseline, 6 weeks, discharge]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

N/A and Older

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

elderly persons attending the geriatric day hospital at the royal victoria hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

persons who are not medically fit to participate in the Geriatric day hospital physiotherapy component.
the individuals at high risk for falls

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	McGill University-Royal Victoria Hospital Site	Montreal	Quebec	Canada	H3A-1A1

Sponsors and Collaborators

McGill University

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Nancy E Mayo, PhD, McGill University, Division of Clinical Epidemiology

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.

Responsible Party:

Nancy Mayo, BSc(PT), MSc, PhD, McGill University

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:

NCT00785746

Other Study ID Numbers:

SDR-06--010

First Posted:

Nov 5, 2008

Last Update Posted:

Feb 4, 2013

Last Verified:

Mar 1, 2010

Keywords provided by Nancy Mayo, BSc(PT), MSc, PhD, McGill University

elderly, balance, core, strength

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Feb 4, 2013