Accidental FallNCT05740124
Workplace Fall Prevention Through Slip Recovery Training
A study testing slip recovery training and alternative balance training in people with Accidental Fall, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Accidental Fall
- What is being tested?
- slip recovery training and alternative balance training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 34 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2023to 31 Mar 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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
Who cannot join
- weigh over 250 pounds
- answer 'no' to all questions of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
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:
Read more
- 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
- Being tested
- slip recovery training, alternative balance training
- Keywords
- slips, balance recovery, perturbation-based balance training, balance training, falls
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
slip recovery trainingBehavioural
Participants practice volitional and reactive stepping responses that mimic those needed when recovering balance after slipping.
alternative balance trainingBehavioural
Participants practice standing and walking under varied sensory conditions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Slip recovery training | Experimental | Once weekly sessions of slip recovery training for 3 or 6 weeks. Each session will be 20 minutes of training. Training will involve volitional and reactive stepping movements that mimic the movements necessary to recover balance after slipping while walking. Receives: Behavioral: slip recovery training |
| Alternative balance training | Active comparator | Once weekly sessions of balance training for 3 or 6 weeks. Each session will be 20 minutes of training. Training will involve standing balance under varied sensory conditions, and tandem walking forward and backward under varied sensory conditions. Receives: Behavioral: alternative balance training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
evaluation of recruitment methods
number of prospective participants who contact the investigators with interest in participating
Measured: 2 years
evaluation of screening methods
percentage of prospective participants who are deemed a poor fit for the study based upon not passing the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
Measured: 2 years
worker adherence to slip recovery training
average number of slip recovery training sessions completed across all participants assigned to slip recovery training
Measured: during 3 or 6 weeks of balance training
worker adherence to alternative balance training
average number of alternative balance training sessions completed across all participants assigned to alternative balance training
Measured: during 3 or 6 weeks of balance training
worker retention during 12 weeks of falls tracking
average number of weeks participants responded to text messages from investigators regarding slips and falls
Measured: during the12 weeks after completing the training intervention
lab-induced slip outcome (fall or recovery)
a binary measure determined based on the force applied to the safety harness worn by all participants when exposed to a laboratory-induced slip
Measured: during the laboratory testing session that will take place within one week of completing training intervention
lab-induced slip distance
the distance the slipping foot slides when exposed to a laboratory-induced slip
Measured: during the laboratory testing session that will take place within one week of completing training intervention
lab-induced slip peak slip speed
the peak speed of the slipping foot during slip when exposed to a laboratory-induced slip
Measured: during the laboratory testing session that will take place within one week of completing training intervention
efficacy of field assessments of balance
Pearson product correlation coefficient between field assessment of slip distance and lab-induced slip distance
Measured: during the field session one week after completing the training intervention
Secondary outcomes (10)
field assessment of slip distance
the distance the slipping foot slides when exposed to a slip induced in the field
Measured: one week after intervention
field assessment of slip distance
the distance the slipping foot slides when exposed to a slip induced in the field
Measured: 12 weeks after intervention
field assessment of peak slip speed
the maximum slipping speed of the foot during recovery from an induced slip
Measured: one week after intervention
field assessment of peak slip speed
the maximum slipping speed of the foot during recovery from an induced slip
Measured: 12 weeks after intervention
postural sway during quiet standing
mean center of pressure speed
Measured: one week after intervention
postural sway during quiet standing
mean center of pressure speed
Measured: 12 weeks after intervention
dynamic balance performance
maximum number of consecutive backward toe-to-heel steps completed while walking three times along a 3cm-wide, 3m-long beam on the floor without touching the ground
Measured: one week after intervention
dynamic balance performance
maximum number of consecutive backward toe-to-heel steps completed while walking three times along a 3cm-wide, 3m-long beam on the floor without touching the ground
Measured: 12 weeks after intervention
number of falls while working during 12-week follow up
determined using a daily text message questionnaire
Measured: during the 12 week follow up after intervention
number of near-falls while working during 12-week follow up
determined using a daily text message questionnaire
Measured: during the 12 week follow up after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Feb 2023
- Study start1 Jun 2023
- Primary completion15 Dec 2024
- Study completion31 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Accidental FallStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- We selected N/A for study phase because this study involves a behavioral intervention.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michael Madigan, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Investigators
- Michael L Madigan, PhD, Principal investigator, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05740124
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 22-853
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 21 Jan 2023
- Last updated
- 27 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Workplace Fall Prevention Through Slip Recovery Training
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05740124
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 22-853
- Conditions
- Accidental Fall
- Keywords
- slips, balance recovery, perturbation-based balance training, balance training, falls
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- We selected N/A for study phase because this study involves a behavioral intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Slip recovery training | Experimental | Behavioral: slip recovery trainingOnce weekly sessions of slip recovery training for 3 or 6 weeks. Each session will be 20 minutes of training. Training will involve volitional and reactive stepping movements that mimic the movements necessary to recover balance after slipping while walking. |
| Alternative balance training | Active comparator | Behavioral: alternative balance trainingOnce weekly sessions of balance training for 3 or 6 weeks. Each session will be 20 minutes of training. Training will involve standing balance under varied sensory conditions, and tandem walking forward and backward under varied sensory conditions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- weigh over 250 pounds
- answer 'no' to all questions of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| slip recovery trainingParticipants practice volitional and reactive stepping responses that mimic those needed when recovering balance after slipping. | Behavioural | Slip recovery training |
| alternative balance trainingParticipants practice standing and walking under varied sensory conditions. | Behavioural | Alternative balance training |
Primary outcome
evaluation of recruitment methods
Time frame: 2 years
number of prospective participants who contact the investigators with interest in participating
evaluation of screening methods
Time frame: 2 years
percentage of prospective participants who are deemed a poor fit for the study based upon not passing the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.
worker adherence to slip recovery training
Time frame: during 3 or 6 weeks of balance training
average number of slip recovery training sessions completed across all participants assigned to slip recovery training
worker adherence to alternative balance training
Time frame: during 3 or 6 weeks of balance training
average number of alternative balance training sessions completed across all participants assigned to alternative balance training
worker retention during 12 weeks of falls tracking
Time frame: during the12 weeks after completing the training intervention
average number of weeks participants responded to text messages from investigators regarding slips and falls
lab-induced slip outcome (fall or recovery)
Time frame: during the laboratory testing session that will take place within one week of completing training intervention
a binary measure determined based on the force applied to the safety harness worn by all participants when exposed to a laboratory-induced slip
lab-induced slip distance
Time frame: during the laboratory testing session that will take place within one week of completing training intervention
the distance the slipping foot slides when exposed to a laboratory-induced slip
lab-induced slip peak slip speed
Time frame: during the laboratory testing session that will take place within one week of completing training intervention
the peak speed of the slipping foot during slip when exposed to a laboratory-induced slip
efficacy of field assessments of balance
Time frame: during the field session one week after completing the training intervention
Pearson product correlation coefficient between field assessment of slip distance and lab-induced slip distance
10 secondary outcomes
field assessment of slip distance
Time frame: one week after intervention
field assessment of slip distance
Time frame: 12 weeks after intervention
field assessment of peak slip speed
Time frame: one week after intervention
field assessment of peak slip speed
Time frame: 12 weeks after intervention
postural sway during quiet standing
Time frame: one week after intervention
postural sway during quiet standing
Time frame: 12 weeks after intervention
dynamic balance performance
Time frame: one week after intervention
dynamic balance performance
Time frame: 12 weeks after intervention
number of falls while working during 12-week follow up
Time frame: during the 12 week follow up after intervention
number of near-falls while working during 12-week follow up
Time frame: during the 12 week follow up after intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michael L Madigan, PhD principal investigator
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing slip recovery training and alternative balance training in people with Accidental Fall, run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
evaluation of recruitment methods (time frame: 2 years). The study lists 9 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Jun 2025.