Slip and trip training aims to teach the brain to prevent falls

NCT ID NCT04205279

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Recruiting now This study
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By invitation only
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Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
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Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
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Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

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Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
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First seen Jul 06, 2026 · Last updated Jul 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study compares three different devices that cause controlled slips and trips to train the body's reactive balance. Healthy young adults, healthy older adults, and stroke survivors will undergo repeated perturbation training to improve stability and limb support. The goal is to reduce the risk of real-life falls by teaching the nervous system better fall-prevention strategies.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Reactive balance training using perturbation devices
What this could lead to
If successful, this training method could reduce fall risk in older adults and people with stroke, improving safety and independence.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study, so results may not apply broadly. The training involves induced falls, which could cause injury despite safety measures.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 90 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Feb 2018

Expected to finish

Dec 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

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.

Ages

18 to 90 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show 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: Healthy Young participants * Age group: 18-55 years. * Absence of any acute or chronic neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis. * No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months) * Not on any sedative drugs. * Can understand and communicate in English Healthy older adults * Age group: 56-90 years. * Absence of any acute or chronic neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis. * No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months) * Not on any sedative drugs. * Ability to walk with or without an assistive device for 10 meters * Can understand and communicate in English * Berg balance scale score \<45/56. Persons with stroke * Age group: 18-90 years. * Absence of any acute or chronic neurological diagnosis except stroke (self reported) * Onset of stroke (\> 6 months) * Absence of any cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal or systemic diagnosis. * No recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months) * Not on any sedative drugs. * Ability to walk with or without an assistive device for 10 meters * Can understand and communicate in English Exclusion Criteria: Healthy subject: * Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%. * Body weight more than 250 lbs. Healthy Older adults: * Individuals with heel bone density with a T-score \< -2, is classified as osteoporotic and will be excluded. * Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (Mini-mental State Exam score \< 25/30) will be excluded. * Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%. * 6 minute walk test. Subjects will also be screened out if on the 6 minute walk test they complain of shortness of breath or uncontrolled pain (\> 3/10 on VAS) or pulse oxygen drops \< 92% or are unable to achieve the age-specified minimal ambulation distance. * Body weight more than 250 lbs. Persons with stroke: * Individuals with heel bone density with a T-score \< -2, is classified as osteoporotic and will be excluded. * Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (Mini-mental State Exam score \< 25/30) will be excluded. * Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during resting), and 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) during resting \< 95%. * 6 minute walk test. Subjects will also be screened out if on the 6 minute walk test they complain of shortness of breath or uncontrolled pain (\> 3/10 on VAS) or pulse oxygen drops \< 92% or are unable to achieve the age-specified minimal ambulation distance. * Body weight more than 250 lbs.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Illinois at Chicago

    RECRUITING

    Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

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