The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is seeking participants for a research study, called “Influences of Lower Limb Strength and Rate of Torque Development on Recovery from a Backwards Balance Loss.”
We’re interested in the effects of lower body strength on the ability to recover from a loss of balance and how people step when they lose their balance.
To participate in our study, you must be age 18 to 45, able to tolerate losing your balance multiple times while wearing a safety harness, weigh less than 250 pounds, and be willing to have your ankle, knee and hip strength tested.
In order to participate, you must not have the following:
- A physical condition that would limit testing
- A neurological disease, osteoporosis, or an uncontrolled chronic illness such as heart disease or diabetes
- Use an assistive device to perform daily activities
- Balance problems or persistent dizziness, hospitalization, broken lower limb bone, serious illness, concussion, loss of consciousness, or a major surgery in the last six months
- An injury or condition that limited your physical activity or been pregnant in the last three months
- An amputated limb
- Allergies or sensitivity to tape
Also, you must not take medications that impair cognitive function, pain sensation or balance in the 12 hours before the study activities.
If you’re interested and meet the above criteria, you would come to the university’s Medical Sciences Building on Werth Boulevard, where we would ask you to sign an informed consent form and answer questions on a questionnaire. Depending on your responses to the questionnaire, you may or may not be eligible for the study.
If you meet the study criteria, you’ll be asked to continue the single testing session where you will be made to lose your balance multiple times in a safety harness while performing a squat task, and have your ankle, knee and hip strength tested while sitting. Your participation will involve approximately 60 to 75 minutes of time.
You will not be paid for participating or be reimbursed for any costs associated with traveling to/from the George Fox campus. You are able to stop participation in the study at any time and for any reason.
Finally, 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.
Questions? Contact Lyndsay Stutzenberger at lstutzenberger@georgefox.edu.
