Weak ankles linked to falls in seniors – new study reveals clues
NCT ID NCT03343769
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at 34 older adults (ages 60-90) who had recently fallen to see if ankle muscle strength is linked to balance. Researchers measured the strength of muscles that move the ankle up and down and compared it to how much people sway while standing. The goal was to find better ways to screen for fall risk and design exercises to strengthen weak ankle muscles.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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34 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2011
- Finished
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Dec 2016
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
patients followed at the Pôle de rééducation et de réadaptation
- Ages
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60 to 90 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Control group: * Subjects who have provided written informed consent * Subjects with national health insurance cover * Subjects aged between 60 and 90 years old * Able to understand simple instructions and exercise instructions and to provide informed consent * with no diseases that could compromise postural abilities and ankle muscle strength. * Subjects who have not experience a sudden uncontrolled fall in the absence of outside factors in the 6 months preceding inclusion. Patients group * Subjects who have provided written informed consent * Subjects with national health insurance cover * Subjects aged between 60 and 90 years old * Able to understand simple instructions and exercise instructions and to provide informed consent * Subjects who have experienced at least one sudden uncontrolled fall in the absence of outside factors in the 6 months preceding inclusion. Exclusion Criteria: * Acute balance disorders (central vestibular syndrome, infection or toxic cause) * Chronic vestibular disease with proven clinical repercussions * Any severe neuro-orthopedic disease impairing balance as well as physiological impairments due to ageing Any chronic neurological disorder (stroke, Parkinson syndrome…) * Any psychiatric disorder able to compromise participation * Non-corrected vision disorder * Cancer or any progressive disease * Treatment with psychotropic agents able to impair vigilance and posture * Patients under guardianship * Patients with an ADL score \<3 (total of 6 points), reflecting a clinically obvious high risk of falling
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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CHU Dijon Bourgogne
Dijon, 21000, France