Tele-Supervised Dual-Task Balance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk of Falls

Efficacy of Tele-Supervised Dual-Task Balance Training on Gait, Balance, and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults at Risk of Falls

Dual-task training combines movement with cognitive tasks to improve gait, balance, and thinking.

This study will compare tele-supervised versus onsite dual-task balance training in older adults at risk of falls.

Sixty participants aged 65+ will be randomly assigned to either remote or face-to-face training for 8 weeks.

Both groups will follow the same program, delivered via video calls or direct supervision.

Outcomes measures will include gait speed, balance, and cognition using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B).

Inclusion Criteria:

• sixty literate, community-dwelling older individuals (male and female) 65 years of age or older
• access to the internet at home (for participants in the tele-supervised group)
• fall risk defined as a Berg Balance Scale score ˂52 (out of a total of 56 points)
• at least one fall during the preceding year
• as well as the capacity to walk on one's own without the need for an assistive device.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, orthopedic conditions)
• or severe sensory impairments that could interfere with participation or balance were excluded.