Tiny vibrations may help older adults stay steady on their feet

NCT ID NCT05702801

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a device that delivers very gentle, barely noticeable vibrations to the legs can improve balance in adults aged 65 and older. The vibrations aim to boost the body's natural sense of position, which often declines with age and increases fall risk. Participants will walk on a treadmill that simulates a trip while researchers measure how well they recover their balance. The goal is to find a simple, drug-free way to help older adults avoid falls and stay active.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Stochastic Vibratory Stimulation (SVS) device
What this could lead to
If it works, this could lead to a simple, non-invasive way to reduce fall risk in older adults, potentially preventing injuries and preserving independence.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage study with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The vibrations are subtle and may not be strong enough to improve balance in all older adults.

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 60 people

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

Started

May 2024

Expected to finish

Sep 2029

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

65 years and older

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: * age 65 years or older * the ability to understand study instructions. Exclusion Criteria: * disorders associated with severe motor and balance deficits, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, severe arthritis, lower-extremity amputation, spinal cord pathologies (e.g., spinal stenosis), and diabetes * history of severe vestibular disorder such as bilateral vestibular hypofunction or poorly-compensated unilateral vestibular hypofunction, or Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) \> 40 * central nervous disease * cognitive impairment (MoCA score\<20) * vision problems including cataract, presbyopia, and similar problems that can influence balance * sedating medication or alcohol consumption within 24 hours.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for FALL are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

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.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. 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

  • Rutgers, State University of New Jersey

    RECRUITING

    Newark, New Jersey, 07107, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.