We are looking for people 65 years and older who are fearful of falling and would like to participate in a study that is investigating how walking can increase hip and ankle range of motion and strength to improve the balance and gait of older adults.
The study involves 5 different balance and gait test that are done in the Movement Analysis Lab at Ithaca College and will take 2 hours. You will then be assigned to a group that either walks 3 times a week for 30 minutes for 6 weeks either on a treadmill with a harness on for safety or you will either walk on your own. After 6 weeks you will come back to the Movement Analysis Lab to have the balance and gait tests re-examined.
If you come to the Movement Analysis Lab for the pre/posttests and do the walking you will be given a $25 gift card. If you come to Ithaca College to walk on the treadmill with a harness you will be given a $50 gift card. The amount will be prorated if you withdraw from the study.
If you have any of the following characteristics then we can’t include you in the study:
- Unable to walk for 15 minutes by yourself without an assistive device (i.e. cane walker)
- Have a cardiac condition that isn’t stable (recent heart attack, heart surgery, or agina within 3 months)
- Have had hip or knee surgery in the past 6 months
- Have a neurological diagnosis
- Have dementia
Please contact Dr. Laura Gras at lgras@ithaca.edu or 607-274-7125 for more information or to sign up for the study.
Laura Z Gras, PT, DPT, DSc, GCS, Associate Professor
Deborah King, PhD, Professor
Joshua Tome, MS, Research Biomechanist
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20170127125912654