Nordic Walking as Gait Training for Frail Elderly - Full Text View

Sponsored by:	McGill University
Information provided by:	McGill University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00805220

Purpose

The elderly are the fastest growing proportion of the population. Ageism implies a decline of physical functions affecting functional and safe ambulation. Based on the ICF model intervening in walking capacity could favourable impact on quality of life of frail elders. Over ground walking training is indicated as a possible exercise. However, to achieve positive results on walking capacity, an exercise-dose response is needed. A more intensive way of promoting walking training is to add skiing poles while walking, a technique called Nordic Walking (NW). This study will be the first to compare NW with usual walking training. It aims to estimate for frail elderly the relative efficacy in improving functional walking capacity of two gait training strategies: NW and usual walking training and explore its impact on fear of falling. This study hypothesized that participants receiving Nordic Walking will walk longer, faster and fear less. NW if proven effective will positively impact on the functional capacities and quality of life of frail elders and provide an more intense method of walking training.

Condition	Intervention	Phase
Frail Elderly	Other: Nordic Walking	Phase II

MedlinePlus related topics: Exercise and Physical Fitness

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Treatment, Randomized, Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title:	Nordic Walking for Frail Elderly: a Randomized Pilot Trial

Further study details as provided by McGill University:

Primary Outcome Measures:

6 Minute Walk Test 5 Meter Walk Test Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks follow-up, 8 weeks follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Berg Balance Scale; CHAMPS; Lower Extremity Functional Scale; Visual Analogue Scale of Pain; EuroQol 5D. [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks follow-up, 8 weeks follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment:	30
Study Start Date:	January 2009
Estimated Study Completion Date:	September 2009
Estimated Primary Completion Date:	May 2009 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
1: Active Comparator Regular overground walking without poles	Other: Nordic Walking Walking training with and without poles will be twice a week. The sessions last 20 minutes each and consist of walking, stretching and mobility exercises. This will last 8 weeks in a total of 16 sessions. A therapist will closely monitor your exercises and modify them according to your needs and comfort
2: Experimental Nordic Walking	Other: Nordic Walking Walking training with and without poles will be twice a week. The sessions last 20 minutes each and consist of walking, stretching and mobility exercises. This will last 8 weeks in a total of 16 sessions. A therapist will closely monitor your exercises and modify them according to your needs and comfort

Detailed Description:

This is a single blind, randomized, pilot trial designed to estimate the amount of change between two programs. Subjects will be randomized and stratified by setting into one of two groups, over ground walking training with poles (Nordic Walking) or traditional over ground walking training (without poles). Randomization will be computer generated using randomization scheme from the website Randomization.com at http://www.randomization.com Basic descriptive statistics will be used to characterize the participants and compare the two groups at baseline. Paired t-test will be used to estimate the efficacy of each intervention. Effects size of each interventions and its ratio will be calculated. Group-specific change score will be calculated to explore the impact of prognostic variables (age, gender, number of comorbities, baseline gait speed) on change of an outcome (with or without poles).

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	65 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:	Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

65 years old or more
undergoing rehabilitation program or living a residence facility
medically stable or in their usually state of health.

Exclusion Criteria:

severe cognitive impairments (short mini mental score less than 14/18)47
unable to ambulate a minimum of 15 meters with or without aids
without mobility restrictions as represented by a gait speed greater than 1.2 m/s
moderate to severe limitations of upper extremity represented by a shoulder flexion range of motion (ROM) less than 90 degrees and extension less than 20 degrees; elbow flexion ROM less than 90 degrees; and with a poor grip judged by the ability to release a can of 5 cm diameter
pathological or musculoskeletal conditions of the upper extremity
individuals unable to attend a minimum of eight weeks of intervention.

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00805220

Contacts

Contact: Sabrina M Figueiredo, Msc Candidat

514-934-1934 ext 36906

sabrina.figueiredo@mail.mcgill.ca

Locations

Canada, Quebec
Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH) at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Richardson Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Sponsors and Collaborators

McGill University

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Nancy Mayo, BSc MSc PhD

McGill University

More Information

Canadian Nordic Walking Association This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Pete Edwards and The American Nordic Walking System This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Responsible Party:	McGill University ( Nancy E. Mayo, BSc(PT), MSc, PhD )
Study ID Numbers:	NWS-001
Study First Received:	December 8, 2008
Last Updated:	December 8, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT00805220
Health Authority:	Canada: Ethics Review Committee

Keywords provided by McGill University:

frail elderly walking capacity walk training Nordic Walking

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 16, 2009