Effects of Task-Specific Step Training on Reactive Balance

Effects of Task-Specific Step Training on Reactive Balance After Laboratory-Induced Trips: A Pilot Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a novel and pragmatic (i.e., not requiring specialized equipment) task-specific step training regimen that aims to improve reactive balance after tripping. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does this step training regimen improve reactive balance after tripping compared to no training?
• How well does this step training regimen improve reactive balance compared to treadmill training, which is a more commonly studied reactive balance training regimen that uses a specialized treadmill.

Participants will:

• complete step training or treadmill training (or no training if assigned to the control group) twice a week for three weeks
• experience a laboratory-induced trip three weeks later to evaluate their reactive balance

Inclusion Criteria:

• 65-80 years old
• willing to use wearable sensors for 2-3 weeks (for a separate study)
• no lower limb amputation
• not weigh over 250 pounds
• pass a telephone interview related to cognitive status

Exclusion Criteria:

• participants must pass a health screening involving a questionnaire that will be reviewed by a health care specialist.
• participants must not have clinical osteoporosis as indicated by a bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra and proximal femur of t<-2.0 as obtained from dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), or a DEXA scan completed within the last year.