Slip and trip training aims to teach the brain to prevent falls
NCT ID NCT04205279
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.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2018
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- 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.
- Ages
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18 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: 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
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Illinois at Chicago
RECRUITINGChicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and pelvic proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on trunk control, balance and functional mobility in stroke patients
- Correlation of visual and motor deficits in stroke patients
- Pilot study on the effects induced by an electromyographic-controlled functional electrical stimulator (FitFES) for upper limb rehabilitation in post-stroke patients
- Brazilian version of a behavior change intervention to support healthy lifestyle adoption after stroke - iVIDAVC: protocol for a pilot randomized study
- Determination of efficacy of sustained motor contraction generated using StimWave peripheral nerve stimulator
- Can a PET tracer reveal hidden brain inflammation?