Tiny vibrations may help older adults stay steady on their feet
NCT ID NCT05702801
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
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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 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2024
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2029
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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65 years and older
- 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: * 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.
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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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Rutgers, State University of New Jersey
RECRUITINGNewark, New Jersey, 07107, United States
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