CompletedNot Applicable

Comparative Effects Between a Resistance Training and a Combined Balance and Strength Training on Functional Fitness and Fall Risk in Older Adults

Italy111 participantsStarted 2022-11-01

Plain-language summary

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different training protocols on muscle strength, flexibility, aerobic endurance, balance and walking ability in older adults in order to reduce their fall risk. The participants (n=110) aged 65-85 years, self-sufficient and physically active, were randomly assigned to a resistance training (RT) group and a combined balance and strength (BS) group. Both groups attended supervised sessions of 3 hours twice a week for 6 weeks. To measure the functional fitness, before and after the training program the Senior Fitness Test Battery was used, while physical activity level and fear of falling were assessed with self-reported questionnaires. Moreover, participants were asked to record the number of falls they had over the next two years after the end of the training program.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Older Adults; * Age ≥ 60 years; * Independent in carrying out activities of daily living. Exclusion Criteria: * Unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, or neurological conditions that contraindicate exercise; * Recent fractures, major orthopedic surgery, or acute musculoskeletal pain limiting safe exercise participation.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in fear of falling (Short FES-I score)

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Lower-limb strength/endurance

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Upper-limb strength

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Change in lower-back and hamstring flexibility

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Change in dynamic balance and mobility

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Change in aerobic endurance

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Relative Fall Risk

Timeframe: Over the next two years after the end of the training program

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07555249

SponsorUniversity of Palermo

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-05-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Accidental Fall trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Change in fear of falling (Short FES-I score)

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Lower-limb strength/endurance

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Upper-limb strength

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Change in lower-back and hamstring flexibility

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Change in dynamic balance and mobility

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Change in aerobic endurance

Timeframe: Baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention

Relative Fall Risk

Timeframe: Over the next two years after the end of the training program