PT students seek participants for study on balance recovery training
Doctor of physical therapy students are seeking participants for a research study we’re conducting, titled “The effect of perturbation-based balance training dosage on falls, fear of falls, and reactive stepping in community-dwelling older adults.” We are interested in balance recovery training to prevent falls and reduce the fear of falling.
To participate in our study, you must:
- Be age 60 or over
- Live independently or in an assisted living facility
- Stand unsupported without an assistive device
- Take a cognitive test and be able to tolerate losing your balance multiple times while in a safety harness
To participate, you must not have a diagnosis of a neurological condition or a current illness or health issue that would make performing study activities unsafe. Also, you may not be taking medications which cause excessive sleepiness.
If you’re interested in participating and meet the above criteria, please come to the George Fox’s Medical Sciences Building on Werth Boulevard, where we will ask you to sign an informed consent form, answer questions on a questionnaire, and perform a short mental status examination. Depending on your responses to the questions, you may or may not be eligible.
If you are eligible, you’ll be asked to participate in two to three testing sessions that last approximately one hour each. During testing sessions you will have your vital signs measured (blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen levels), fill out a fear of falling questionnaire, and be made to lose your balance multiple times while in a safety harness. Research team members will contact you monthly to track any falls.
You will not be paid for being or reimbursed for any costs associated with traveling to/from the George Fox campus. You are able to stop participation at any time and for any reason. No information that would identify you will be made public, and we do not feel there is more than minimal risk associated with this study.
If interested in participating, call or email us to schedule an appointment for testing. Please call 503-554-2463 or email Lyndsay Stutzenberger at lstutzenberger@georgefox.edu.