Workplace Fall Prevention Through Slip Recovery Training

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of applying slip recovery training, a novel balance training exercise intervention, to workers who are at increased risk of slip-induced falls. This will be done via field studies with industrial partners. Note that the slip recovery training is not a device or drug. It is a detailed exercise regimen that aims to improve the the ability to recover balance after slipping. The main specific aims are are: * To investigate the feasibility of on-site slip recovery training * To validate field assessments for evaluating slip recovery training efficacy in subsequent research Participants will complete 3-6 once-weekly sessions of slip recovery training, answer daily text messages indicating any falls they experience while working over the 12 weeks after completing slip recovery training, and a subset of workers will be asked to participate in focus group discussions after the 12 weeks to provide information on the long-term feasibility of slip recovery training. A group of workers at Virginia Tech will also be asked to complete a laboratory session of testing during which they will be exposed to a laboratory-induced slip so that gold-standard measures of slip-induced fall recovery can be used to validate field assessments. Workers who complete slip recovery training will be compared to another group of workers who complete an alternative balance training that should improve balance but not improve slip recovery that is targeted by slip recovery training.

Conditions

Accidental Fall

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of applying slip recovery training, a novel balance training exercise intervention, to workers who are at increased risk of slip-induced falls. This will be done via field studies with industrial partners. Note that the slip recovery training is not a device or drug. It is a detailed exercise regimen that aims to improve the the ability to recover balance after slipping. The main specific aims are are: * To investigate the feasibility of on-site slip recovery training * To validate field assessments for evaluating slip recovery training efficacy in subsequent research Participants will complete 3-6 once-weekly sessions of slip recovery training, answer daily text messages indicating any falls they experience while working over the 12 weeks after completing slip recovery training, and a subset of workers will be asked to participate in focus group discussions after the 12 weeks to provide information on the long-term feasibility of slip recovery training. A group of workers at Virginia Tech will also be asked to complete a laboratory session of testing during which they will be exposed to a laboratory-induced slip so that gold-standard measures of slip-induced fall recovery can be used to validate field assessments. Workers who complete slip recovery training will be compared to another group of workers who complete an alternative balance training that should improve balance but not improve slip recovery that is targeted by slip recovery training.

Workplace Fall Prevention Through Slip Recovery Training

Workplace Fall Prevention Through Slip Recovery Training

Condition
Accidental Fall
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Blacksburg

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States, 24061

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Virginia Tech workers in Dining Services, Facilities and Housekeeping, and construction.
  • * Veolia field workers in water distribution and water main construction
  • * age 18-65 years old
  • * willing to complete 3 or 6 training sessions, lab testing session, and daily falls tracking for 12 weeks
  • * weigh over 250 pounds
  • * answer 'no' to all questions of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,

Michael L Madigan, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Study Record Dates

2025-12-01