scholarly journals Effectiveness of Daily Use of Bilateral Custom-Made Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Balance, Fear of Falling, and Physical Activity in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Gerontology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhong Wang ◽  
Rahul Goel ◽  
Hadi Rahemi ◽  
Qianzi Zhang ◽  
Brian Lepow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses

Background: Foot problems are prevalent in older adults, which may increase the risk and concern for falls. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) have been shown to be effective in the stabilization of lower extremities, but their long-term effectiveness in improving balance and their potential to encourage older adults to become more physically active are still debated. Objective: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of daily use of a custom-made AFO on balance, fear of falling, and physical activity in older adults. Study Design: Forty-four older adults with concern about or at risk for falling were randomly allocated to either the control group (CG; 77.3% female, age 75.6 ± 6.5 years, BMI 29.3 ± 6.4) or the intervention group (IG; 63.6% female, age 73.7 ± 6.3 years, BMI = 27.8 ± 4.8). The IG received walking shoes and bilateral custom-made AFO. The CG received only walking shoes. At the baseline and 6-month follow-ups, balance and physical activity were assessed using validated wearable instrumentation and fear of falling was assessed using the Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Adherence and acceptability toward wearing the AFO were assessed using self-reported questionnaires at the 6-month follow-up. Results: No significant between-group difference was observed at baseline (p = 0.144–0.882). Compared to baseline and the CG, hip, ankle, and center-of-mass (COM) sways were significantly reduced at the 6-month follow-up in the IG while standing with the feet together during the eyes-open condition (p = 0.005–0.040). Within the IG, the FES-I was reduced significantly (p = 0.036) and there was an increasing trend in the number of walking bouts with a medium effect size (d = 0.52, p = 0.440) compared to baseline. However, there were no significant changes in FES-I and physical activity measures in the CG (p = 0.122–0.894). The reduction in COM sway in the IG was moderately correlated with adherence (r = –0.484, p = 0.047) and strongly correlated with baseline COM sway (r = –0.903, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Results suggest that bilateral custom-made AFO plus walking shoes is effective in improving balance compared to walking shoes alone, and it significantly reduces the fear of falling, with a nonsignificant but noticeable positive trend in physical activity, compared to baseline. The results also suggest that older adults with poor balance at baseline and higher daily adherence to using the AFO will gain more benefit from the AFO intervention.

scholarly journals Impact of a Knowledge Translation Intervention on Physical Activity and Mobility in Older Adults (the Move4Age Study): Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Neil-Sztramko ◽  
Jenna Smith-Turchyn ◽  
Julie Richardson ◽  
Maureen Dobbins
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled

BACKGROUND The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (the Portal) was launched in 2014 as a knowledge translation (KT) tool to increase access to evidence-based health information. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to understand if and how dissemination of mobility information through the Portal impacts physical activity (PA) in older adults. METHODS In this randomized controlled trial, participants (n=510) were assigned to a 12-week mobility-focused KT intervention or self-serve control group. The intervention included weekly email alerts and a study-specific social media hashtag linking to mobility-focused Portal materials. The control group was able to access the Portal on their own but did not receive targeted KT strategies. Participants completed questionnaires (including the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity to quantify PA) at baseline, end of the study, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS Participants were predominantly female (430/510, 84.3%), mean age 64.7 years, with no baseline differences between groups. Over half (277/510, 54.3%) of the participants were classified as “active” at baseline. There was no significant between-group difference in the PA category. Overall, both groups increased their PA with improvements maintained at 3-month follow-up (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). In planned subgroup analyses, the KT intervention had a significant effect for those with poor or fair baseline self-rated health (<i>P</i>=.03). CONCLUSIONS No differences were found between those who received the targeted intervention and a control group with self-serve access to the Portal, except in subgroups with low self-rated health. Both groups did report increases in PA that were sustained beyond participation in a research study. Findings suggest that different KT strategies may be needed for different types of users, with more intense interventions being most impactful for certain groups (ie, those with lower self-rated health). CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02947230; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02947230

scholarly journals Impact of a Knowledge Translation Intervention on Physical Activity and Mobility in Older Adults (the Move4Age Study): Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/15125 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. e15125
Author(s):  
Sarah Neil-Sztramko ◽  
Jenna Smith-Turchyn ◽  
Julie Richardson ◽  
Maureen Dobbins
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (the Portal) was launched in 2014 as a knowledge translation (KT) tool to increase access to evidence-based health information. Objective The purpose of this study was to understand if and how dissemination of mobility information through the Portal impacts physical activity (PA) in older adults. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, participants (n=510) were assigned to a 12-week mobility-focused KT intervention or self-serve control group. The intervention included weekly email alerts and a study-specific social media hashtag linking to mobility-focused Portal materials. The control group was able to access the Portal on their own but did not receive targeted KT strategies. Participants completed questionnaires (including the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity to quantify PA) at baseline, end of the study, and 3-month follow-up. Results Participants were predominantly female (430/510, 84.3%), mean age 64.7 years, with no baseline differences between groups. Over half (277/510, 54.3%) of the participants were classified as “active” at baseline. There was no significant between-group difference in the PA category. Overall, both groups increased their PA with improvements maintained at 3-month follow-up (P<.001). In planned subgroup analyses, the KT intervention had a significant effect for those with poor or fair baseline self-rated health (P=.03). Conclusions No differences were found between those who received the targeted intervention and a control group with self-serve access to the Portal, except in subgroups with low self-rated health. Both groups did report increases in PA that were sustained beyond participation in a research study. Findings suggest that different KT strategies may be needed for different types of users, with more intense interventions being most impactful for certain groups (ie, those with lower self-rated health). Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02947230; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02947230

scholarly journals The effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on older adults’ physical activity: A randomized controlled trial with extended follow-up during COVID-19

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258559
Author(s):  
Tiina Savikangas ◽  
Timo Törmäkangas ◽  
Anna Tirkkonen ◽  
Markku Alen ◽  
Roger A. Fielding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Physical Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background Executive functions underlie self-regulation and are thus important for physical activity and adaptation to new situations. The aim was to investigate, if yearlong physical and cognitive training (PTCT) had greater effects on physical activity among older adults than physical training (PT) alone, and if executive functions predicted physical activity at baseline, after six (6m) and twelve months (12m) of the interventions, one-year post-intervention follow-up and an extended follow-up during COVID-19 lockdown. Methods Data from a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (PASSWORD-study, ISRCTN52388040) were utilized. Participants were 70–85 years old community-dwelling men and women from Jyväskylä, Finland. PT (n = 159) included supervised resistance, walking and balance training, home-exercises and self-administered moderate activity. PTCT (n = 155) included PT and cognitive training targeting executive functions on a computer program. Physical activity was assessed with a one-item, seven-scale question. Executive functions were assessed with color-word Stroop, Trail Making Test (TMT) B-A and Letter Fluency. Changes in physical activity were modeled with multinomial logistic models and the impact of executive functions on physical activity with latent change score models. Results No significant group-by-time interaction was observed for physical activity (p>0.1). The subjects were likely to select an activity category higher than baseline throughout the study (pooled data: B = 0.720–1.614, p<0.001–0.046). Higher baseline Stroop predicted higher physical activity through all subsequent time-points (pooled data: B = 0.011–0.013, p = 0.015–0.030). Higher baseline TMT B–A predicted higher physical activity at 6m (pooled data: B = 0.007, p = 0.006) and during COVID-19 (B = 0.005, p = 0.030). In the PT group, higher baseline Letter Fluency predicted higher physical activity at 12m (B = -0.028, p = 0.030) and follow-up (B = -0.042, p = 0.002). Conclusions Cognitive training did not have additive effects over physical training alone on physical activity, but multicomponent training and higher executive function at baseline may support adaptation to and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle among older adults.

scholarly journals Perturbation-based balance training to improve balance control and reduce falls in older adults – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa H. G. Gerards ◽  
Rik G. J. Marcellis ◽  
Martijn Poeze ◽  
Antoine F. Lenssen ◽  
Kenneth Meijer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Falls In Older Adults

Abstract Background Falls are a common cause of injuries and hospitalization among older adults. While conventional balance training appears effective in preventing falls, a relatively large number of training sessions are needed and retention of the effects after the training period is hard to accomplish. This may be because these interventions are not sufficiently task-specific for the mechanism of falls. Many falls in older adults occur due to unexpected external perturbations during gait, such as trips. Therefore, there is increasing interest in perturbation-based balance training (PBT), which is a more task-specific intervention to improve reactive balance control after unexpected perturbations. The literature suggests that PBT may be more effective and require fewer training sessions to reduce falls incidence in older adults, than conventional balance training. We aim to evaluate the effect of a three-session PBT protocol on balance control, daily life falls and fear of falling. Secondly, we will evaluate the acceptability of the PBT protocol. Methods This is a mixed-methods study combining a single-blind (outcome assessor) randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a parallel-group design, and qualitative research evaluating the acceptability of the intervention. The study sample consists of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who have recently fallen and visited the MUMC+ outpatient clinic. Subjects are randomized into two groups. The control group (n = 40) receives usual care, meaning referral to a physical therapist. The intervention group (n = 40) receives usual care plus three 30-min sessions of PBT in the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment. Subjects’ balance control (Mini-BESTest) and fear of falling (FES-I) will be assessed at baseline, and 4 weeks and 3 months post-baseline. Daily life falls will be recorded with falls calendars until 6 months after the first follow-up measurement, long-term injurious falls will be recorded at 2-years’ follow-up via the electronic patient record. Acceptability of the PBT protocol will be evaluated with semi-structured interviews in a subsample from the intervention group. Discussion This study will contribute to the evidence for the effectiveness of PBT using a training protocol based on the available literature, and also give much needed insights into the acceptability of PBT for older adults. Trial registration Nederlands Trial Register NL7680. Registered 17-04-2019 – retrospectively registered.

scholarly journals Results of MyPlan 2.0 on Physical Activity in Older Belgian Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/13219 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. e13219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Karel Herman ◽  
Louise Poppe ◽  
Geert Crombez ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
And Control

Background The beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) for older adults are well known. However, few older adults reach the health guideline of 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Electronic health (eHealth) interventions are effective in increasing PA levels in older adults in the short term but, rarely, intermediate-term effects after a period without the support of a website or an app have been examined. Furthermore, current theory-based interventions focus mainly on preintentional determinants, although postintentional determinants should also be included to increase the likelihood of successful behavior change. Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of the theory-based eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants on both accelerometer-based and self-reported PA levels in older Belgian adults in the short and intermediate term. Methods This study was a randomized controlled trial with three data collection points: baseline (N=72), post (five weeks after baseline; N=65), and follow-up (three months after baseline; N=65). The study took place in Ghent, and older adults (aged ≥65 years) were recruited through a combination of random and convenience sampling. At all the time points, participants were visited by the research team. Self-reported domain-specific PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and accelerometers were used to objectively assess PA. Participants in the intervention group got access to the eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, and used it independently for five consecutive weeks after baseline. MyPlan 2.0 was based on the self-regulatory theory and focused on both pre- and postintentional processes to increase PA. Multilevel mixed-models repeated measures analyses were performed in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Results Significant (borderline) positive intervention effects were found for accelerometer-based MVPA (baseline−follow-up: intervention group +5 min per day and control group −5 min per day; P=.07) and for accelerometer-based total PA (baseline−post: intervention group +20 min per day and control group −24 min per day; P=.05). MyPlan 2.0 was also effective in increasing self-reported PA, mainly in the intermediate term. A positive intermediate-term intervention effect was found for leisure-time vigorous PA (P=.02), moderate household-related PA (P=.01), and moderate PA in the garden (P=.04). Negative intermediate-term intervention effects were found for leisure-time moderate PA (P=.01) and cycling for transport (P=.07). Conclusions The findings suggest that theory-based eHealth interventions focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants have the potential for behavior change in older adults. If future studies including larger samples and long-term follow-up can confirm and clarify these findings, researchers and practitioners should be encouraged to use a self-regulation perspective for eHealth intervention development. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03194334; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03783611.

scholarly journals Results of MyPlan 2.0 on Physical Activity in Older Belgian Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Karel Herman ◽  
Louise Poppe ◽  
Geert Crombez ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Group 5 ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
And Control

BACKGROUND The beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) for older adults are well known. However, few older adults reach the health guideline of 150 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Electronic health (eHealth) interventions are effective in increasing PA levels in older adults in the short term but, rarely, intermediate-term effects after a period without the support of a website or an app have been examined. Furthermore, current theory-based interventions focus mainly on preintentional determinants, although postintentional determinants should also be included to increase the likelihood of successful behavior change. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of the theory-based eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants on both accelerometer-based and self-reported PA levels in older Belgian adults in the short and intermediate term. METHODS This study was a randomized controlled trial with three data collection points: baseline (N=72), post (five weeks after baseline; N=65), and follow-up (three months after baseline; N=65). The study took place in Ghent, and older adults (aged ≥65 years) were recruited through a combination of random and convenience sampling. At all the time points, participants were visited by the research team. Self-reported domain-specific PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and accelerometers were used to objectively assess PA. Participants in the intervention group got access to the eHealth intervention, MyPlan 2.0, and used it independently for five consecutive weeks after baseline. MyPlan 2.0 was based on the self-regulatory theory and focused on both pre- and postintentional processes to increase PA. Multilevel mixed-models repeated measures analyses were performed in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). RESULTS Significant (borderline) positive intervention effects were found for accelerometer-based MVPA (baseline−follow-up: intervention group +5 min per day and control group −5 min per day; <italic>P</italic>=.07) and for accelerometer-based total PA (baseline−post: intervention group +20 min per day and control group −24 min per day; <italic>P</italic>=.05). MyPlan 2.0 was also effective in increasing self-reported PA, mainly in the intermediate term. A positive intermediate-term intervention effect was found for leisure-time vigorous PA (<italic>P</italic>=.02), moderate household-related PA (<italic>P</italic>=.01), and moderate PA in the garden (<italic>P</italic>=.04). Negative intermediate-term intervention effects were found for leisure-time moderate PA (<italic>P</italic>=.01) and cycling for transport (<italic>P</italic>=.07). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that theory-based eHealth interventions focusing on pre- and postintentional determinants have the potential for behavior change in older adults. If future studies including larger samples and long-term follow-up can confirm and clarify these findings, researchers and practitioners should be encouraged to use a self-regulation perspective for eHealth intervention development. CLINICALTRIAL Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03194334; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03783611.

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