Fall Preparedness Program for Preventing Falls

Not yet recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Weiqing Ge

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Youngstown State University

Disqualifiers: Severe medical conditions, Severe cognitive impairment

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 27

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Fall Preparedness Exercise Class can help older adults feel less afraid of falling, improve daily function, and reduce injury-causing falls. Participants will engage in a 12-week exercise program designed to boost confidence and physical abilities. The trial seeks adults aged 60 and up who can join an exercise class. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to enhance their well-being and contribute to valuable research on fall prevention.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on exercise and fall prevention, so it's best to check with the trial organizers or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this fall preparedness program is safe for older adults?

Research has shown that exercise classes focused on preventing falls are generally safe for older adults. These classes improve balance, strength, and movement, which can lower the risk of falls and related injuries.

The exercises are gentle and designed for older adults, incorporating a mix of strength and balance activities. Classes also teach how to safely get up after a fall.

No major safety issues have been reported with these programs, indicating they are well-received by participants. Prospective participants should consult their doctor about any concerns before joining. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Fall Preparedness Exercise Class because it offers a proactive approach to preventing falls, unlike traditional treatments that often focus on rehabilitation after a fall occurs. This class is designed to empower participants by enhancing their balance, strength, and overall awareness of fall risks, potentially reducing the likelihood of falls from happening in the first place. By focusing on prevention rather than recovery, this program aims to maintain independence and improve quality of life for those at risk.

What evidence suggests that the Fall Preparedness Exercise Class is effective for preventing falls in older adults?

Research has shown that exercise programs can greatly reduce the number of falls and the risk of falling in older adults. One study found that exercise alone lowered fall rates by up to 17% compared to those who did not exercise. Another study found that various types of exercise effectively reduced the risk of falling. These findings suggest that exercise-based programs, such as the Fall Preparedness Exercise Class tested in this trial, hold promise for preventing falls. Overall, exercise is a proven way to help older adults stay safer and more confident. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Shannon J Dudash

Principal Investigator

Youngstown State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults who are concerned about falling. Participants should be able to attend a 12-week fall preparedness exercise class and complete assessments before, at the start, and after the program.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 60 years old or older.

Able to participate in exercise program

Exclusion Criteria

I am younger than 60 years old.

Severe medical condition that prohibits the ability to participate in an exercise program

6CIT score that indicates severely impaired cognition

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Assessment

Participants perform baseline measures including demographic information, ACSM Preparticipation Screening, and various scales

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants engage in a 12-week fall preparedness program with bi-weekly classes

12 weeks

24 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in fall efficacy and activity level after the intervention

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Fall Preparedness Exercise Class

Trial Overview The study tests if a fall preparedness program can lessen fear of falling in seniors, improve their physical function, and reduce injuries from falls. It involves baseline measurements, a 12-week class intervention, and post-intervention assessments.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Fall Preparedness Class Participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants who meet inclusion and exclusion requirements of the study and sign an informed consent.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Youngstown State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

27

Recruited

2,000+

YMCA

Collaborator

Trials

17

Recruited

2,400+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Otago exercise program (OEP) significantly improved physical performance and functional capacity in elderly participants, as evidenced by better scores in balance and mobility tests after six months of training.

OEP also led to a significant reduction in the incidence of falls among seniors with a history of falls, making it an effective home-based intervention for fall prevention in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized Control Trials on Otago Exercise Program (OEP) to Reduce Falls Among Elderly Community Dwellers in Shahroud, Iran. Dadgari, A., Aizan Hamid, T., Hakim, MN., et al.[2022]

Falls are a common and serious issue for older adults, and at least 30% of these falls are likely preventable with proper risk management and assessment strategies.

Current practices in Germany do not routinely include structured fall assessments in outpatient and inpatient services, which could lead to legal challenges for institutions that fail to implement adequate fall prevention measures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Falling in geriatrics. Diagnosis and treatment]. Becker, C., Rapp, K.[2021]

A study involving 10 healthy young adults confirmed that trunk kinematics, specifically trunk flexion angle and angular velocity, remain consistent regardless of whether the safety harness is fixed or free during postural perturbation training on a treadmill.

This finding is significant for developing fall prevention training programs, as it ensures that the harness configuration does not affect the measurement of trunk movements, allowing for reliable assessments of recovery strategies in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of overhead harness configurations for measuring trunk kinematics during treadmill disturbances. Miller, EJ., Kaufman, KR.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10435089/

Effectiveness of exercise interventions on fall prevention in ... They concluded that exercises as a stand-alone intervention can significantly reduce the rate of falls (23, 26, 27, 35, 37) and the risk of falling (23, 27). To ...

2. eurapa.biomedcentral.com eurapa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s11556-025-00374-x

Effectiveness of exercise prescription variables to reduce fall ... This meta-analysis explored the relationship between various exercise prescription variables and their effects on fall risk reduction in older adults.

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00262/full

Effects of Evidence-Based Fall Reduction Programing on ... Exercise programs had an overall 17% reduction in fall rates compared to control non-exercise groups (12). However, when used together, three factors proved to ...

4. ncoa.org ncoa.org/article/evidence-based-falls-prevention-programs/

Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs for Older Adults Explore the evidence-based programs that are proven to help older adults reduce their risk of falling.

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2819574

Interventions to Prevent Falls in Older Adults: Updated ... Multifactorial and exercise interventions were associated with reduced falls in multiple good-quality trials. Exercise demonstrated the most ...

6. osha.gov osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3666.pdf

Fall Prevention Training Guide Short and direct Toolbox Talks can be a very efficient way to reach workers with health and safety information. Like all training, delivering the ...

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/fall-preparedness-program-for-preventing-falls-c6994

Fall Preparedness Program for Preventing Falls This trial is for older adults who are concerned about falling. Participants should be able to attend a 12-week fall preparedness exercise class and complete ...

8. academics.ysu.edu academics.ysu.edu/bitonte-college-health-and-human-services/physical-therapy-dpt/fall-safety-and-recovery

Fall Safety and Recovery The class structure includes a variation of strengthening and balance exercises as well as education on fall recovery to help reduce the risk of falls. The ...