Unsteady? UMD study may improve balance
Photo by Raphael Renter | @raphi_rawr | Unsplash
For people over 65, falls can be devastating. One in four Americans in that age group have a fall every year.
“Falls among adults aged 65 and older are common, costly and preventable,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.”
As we age and lose muscle mass, we can lose our balance more often. Sometimes medications are to blame; in other cases, diseases like diabetes, heart disease and stroke or problems with your vision or inner ear can throw you off balance.
To help, researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore are studying the best ways to prevent falls. In one study, they are training participants over age 65 to prevent falls in real time with the help of a treadmill.
“The major aim of this study is to improve their balance,” said Anke Hua, the postdoctoral researcher who is leading the study. Dr. Kelly Westlake is the principal investigator.
Her team will outfit participants with a safety harness, then guide them onto a treadmill. During 36 sessions, participants will practice “balance challenges” on the treadmill, walking slowly as it veers to one side, then the other.
“We use balance challenging because people usually fall during daily activities. If we put them in specific contexts, it will improve their balance,” Hua said.
“When you’re walking at your normal pace, the treadmill will suddenly move,” she explained.
“We start at the easy levels, and people learn to react naturally. Of course, they will be wearing a harness to protect them during the whole protocol.”
In addition to the treadmill sessions, the program also involves strength training.
Everyone will be compensated for the 12- week study, which requires three in-person visits per week to UMD’s Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, located at 100 Penn Street in downtown Baltimore. Parking is free.
After the study, Hua’s researchers will follow up every three to six months by phone.
Why sign up for these training sessions? Hua believes that by building muscular strength as well as practicing real-life situations, we can avoid falls.
If researchers can target exactly what exercises work, they can share that data with the public. That way, she said, “It will benefit other older adults their age.”
To learn more about the study, email ahua@som.umaryland.edu or call (410) 458-4348.
