Exercise Program for Reducing Falls in Older Adults

Overseen By Amanda L Rotondo, DPT

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: College of Staten Island, the City University of New York

Disqualifiers: Neurological condition, Recent surgery, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 14

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether special hydraulic exercise equipment can reduce fall risk and improve movement in older adults. Participants will exercise twice a week for six weeks using machines that engage muscles through pushing and pulling. The study aims to determine if these exercises increase strength and decrease fall likelihood. It suits healthy adults over 60 who can engage in physical activity. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to valuable research that could enhance older adults' quality of life.

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 focuses on exercise and does not mention medication changes.

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

Research has shown that hydraulic exercise equipment, such as the Frei FACTUM® novus II line, is both safe and effective. Instead of traditional weights, this equipment uses a special hydraulic system. This design ensures that if exercise needs to stop suddenly, there is no heavy weight to drop or cause injury.

Studies have found that hydraulic-resistance exercise can help older adults improve strength and power without significant risks. The machines focus on movements where muscles shorten as they contract, similar to lifting a weight. These exercises are generally easy on the body and typically do not cause injuries in healthy older adults.

In summary, hydraulic exercise equipment is considered safe for older adults, with no major problems reported in the reviewed studies. This makes it a promising option for those looking to safely improve strength and balance. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this exercise program using hydraulic equipment because it offers a fresh approach to reducing falls in older adults. Unlike traditional strength training, which often uses weights or elastic bands, this program employs hydraulic resistance equipment that engages both the pushing and pulling muscles in a single movement. This method focuses on concentric movements, which are generally safer and less likely to cause muscle soreness, making it particularly suitable for older adults. By providing a balanced workout that strengthens opposing muscle groups simultaneously, this approach could potentially improve stability and coordination more effectively than current options.

What evidence suggests that this exercise program is effective for reducing falls in older adults?

Research has shown that exercise programs can greatly lower the risk of falls in older adults. One study found that exercise reduced falls by about 14.3%, meaning fewer people fell after participating in exercise activities. In this trial, participants will use hydraulic exercise equipment, which strengthens muscles through pushing and pulling. This type of exercise improves balance and movement. Regular use of this equipment enhances muscle control, which is important for preventing falls. Overall, exercise is a proven way to help older adults stay safer and more stable. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Amanda L Rotondo, DPT

Principal Investigator

CUNY College of Staten Island

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults aged 60 and above who can follow directions and participate in physical activity. It's not suitable for those under 60, with neurological conditions, recent surgery (within the last 6 months), current injuries, or any medical condition preventing exercise.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a healthy adult aged 60 or older.

Exclusion Criteria

I am younger than 60 years old.

I have not had surgery in the last 6 months.

I have a neurological condition.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Pre-intervention Assessment

Participants are evaluated for strength, fall risk, and functional ability using various scales and assessments

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants engage in an exercise program using hydraulic resistance equipment 2x/week for 6 weeks

6 weeks

12 visits (in-person)

Post-intervention Assessment

Participants are re-evaluated for strength, fall risk, and functional ability using the same scales and assessments as pre-intervention

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any changes in fall risk and functional ability after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Hydraulic Exercise Equipment

Trial Overview The study tests if a specific exercise program using hydraulic equipment can reduce fall risk and improve function in older adults. Participants will use five types of hydraulic machines twice a week for six weeks to measure changes in balance, gait, strength, and overall functional ability.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All subjects will participate in a 2x/week for 6 weeks exercise program using Frei FACTUM® novus II line exercise equipment, which uses hydraulic resistance. Each session will take 30-45 minutes to complete. The equipment uses concentric movements only but works both agonist and antagonist muscles with each piece of equipment (IE: push and pull). Participants results will be compared pre and post intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

College of Staten Island, the City University of New York

Lead Sponsor

Trials

4

Recruited

220+

Bay Ridge Center

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

20+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38833257/

Interventions to Prevent Falls in Older Adults Exercise interventions were associated with statistically significant reductions in falls (IRR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.96]), individual risk of 1 ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37097767/

Effectiveness of exercise on fall prevention in community ... Results: A 14.3% fall rate reduction was detected in the exercise group (Incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.86; CI 95% 0.77-0.95) compared with the ...

3. ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-020-01041-3

Evidence on physical activity and falls prevention for people ... Exercise prevents falls in older adults. Regular updates of estimated effects of exercise on falls are warranted given the number of new trials.

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/370264131_Effectiveness_of_exercise_on_fall_prevention_in_community-dwelling_older_adults_a_2-year_randomized_controlled_study_of_914_women

a 2-year randomized controlled study of 914 women Results: A 14.3% fall rate reduction was detected in the exercise group (Incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.86; CI 95% 0.77-0.95) compared with the ...

5. irispublishers.com irispublishers.com/ijnc/fulltext/management-and-prevention-of-fall-risk.ID.000618.php

Management and Prevention of Fall Risk: A Literature ... This study highlights the increase in falls in hospitalized older adults using motion sensors placed on the bed or chair in their rooms.

6. intramedic.dk intramedic.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/frei_ag_factum-novus-ii_2017_en.pdf

FACTUM® novus II highest safety due to the special and unique hydraulic training system without weight plates. (concentric / concentric) the movement can be terminated at any ...

7. frei-ag.de frei-ag.de/en/products/factum

FACTUM® Hydraulic Training Equipment - FREI medical FACTUM® is a line of 9 hydraulic medical training machines made in Germany, designed for safer training with adjustable resistance and software compatibility.

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/45389323_Effects_of_Hydraulic-Resistance_Exercise_on_Strength_and_Power_in_Untrained_Healthy_Older_Adults

Effects of Hydraulic-Resistance Exercise on Strength and ... The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of hydraulic-resistance exercise (HDRE) in improving strength and power in healthy older adults.

9. frei-ag.de frei-ag.de/fileadmin/_Produkte/DOWNLOAD/Brochure_FREI_FACTUM_06.2023_EN.pdf

factum - ANALYSIS & TRAINING EQUIPMENT - FREI medical • Safe training: when the movement is terminated at any point, there is no weight resting on the person training. • Concentric / concentric workout.

10. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9621329/

The impact of an exercise intervention using low-cost ... Exercise interventions have shown significant improvements in the older adult population regarding functional and cognitive capacity.