Can a simple walking test predict falls in seniors?
NCT ID NCT07692373
First seen Jul 09, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study examines whether the Groningen Meander Walking Test, a walking test that involves stepping along a curved path, is a reliable and valid way to measure balance and fall risk in older adults. Researchers will recruit 70 people aged 65 and older who have self-reported balance issues or have fallen in the past year. Participants will perform the walking test multiple times to see if results are consistent, and the test's accuracy will be compared to other established balance assessments.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If the test proves reliable, it could become a simple tool for clinics to identify older adults at risk of falling.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, observational study focused on measurement, not treatment. The test may not prove useful in real-world settings.
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.
- Participants
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71 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2026
- Finished
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Sep 2026
- 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
Adults aged 65 years or older with self-reported balance problems and/or a history of falls within the previous 12 months will be recruited from the Orthopedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital. Eligible participants will be individuals who can walk independently with or without a single walking aid and who are able to complete the clinical walking and balance assessments.
- Ages
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65 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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: Aged 65 years or older Self-reported balance problems during activities of daily living and/or a history of at least one fall within the previous 12 months Able to walk independently with or without a single walking aid Able to understand and follow verbal instructions Willing to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Presence of neurological, vestibular, visual, orthopedic, systemic, or medical conditions that may substantially affect gait or balance Acute lower-extremity injury or recent lower-extremity surgery Severe pain preventing completion of the walking or balance tests Cognitive impairment that may limit the ability to understand or follow test instructions Inability to walk independently without personal assistance Use of a rollator
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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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Ordu university
Altinordu, Ordu, 52200, Turkey (Türkiye)
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