Vision, LowNCT07337317
Evaluating Stairway Designs for Individuals With Vision Impairment
A study testing Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps in people with Vision, Low and Mobility Limitation, run by The University of Alabama in Huntsville at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this study is to learn if contrast frequency on step tread-edges influences foot clearance measures, a marker of fall risk, in older adults with and without visual impairments. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Vision, Low, Mobility Limitation
- What is being tested?
- Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 65 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Jan 2026to Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- ≥ Contrast sensitivity log 1.6 or greater
- travels independently in the community, including stairways > two times/week
- comfortable ascending and descending a stairway with rest time provided
Who cannot join
- severe rheumatologic and or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease)
- lower-limb injuries and/or recent joint replacements (e.g., hip fracture, hip, or knee replacement within six months of study enrollment)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama, 35899
Sara A Harper, PhD, 2568242184, sah0075@uah.edu
About this study
Official title: Frequency of Contrast Enhancement on Stairways
The goal of this study is to learn if contrast frequency on step tread-edges influences foot clearance measures, a marker of fall risk, in older adults with and without visual impairments.
The main questions that aim to be answered are how foot clearance measures change across different frequencies of stair contrast, and how experiences and perceptions of different stair contrast frequencies are evaluated.
Read more
Researchers will compare individuals with and without visual impairments to see if contrast frequency on step tread-edges changes.
Participants will attend one visit during which their vision will be measured, and they will be asked to ascend and descend laboratory stairs at different contrast frequencies.
An optional second visit will entail a focus group meeting to better understand how contrast affects mobility in their home and everyday life.
- Conditions
- Vision, Low, Mobility Limitation
- Being tested
- Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps
- Keywords
- older adults, impaired contrast sensivity
- Medical subject headings
- Vision, Low, Mobility Limitation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Frequency of contrast marking on stair stepsOther
Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps will be evaluated to determine how foot clearance, perceptions in older adults with and without impaired contrast sensivity
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | All participants will participate in the experimental arm, that involves a factorial model approach inwhich all participants will experience all eight conditions. Receives: Other: Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Toe clearance
Toe, foot vertical clearance on stair steps
Measured: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Heel clearance
heel, foot horizontal clearance on stair steps
Measured: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Frequency of <5mm toe clearances
how often <5mm toe clearances occur
Measured: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Frequency of <5mm heel clearances
how often <5mm toe clearances occur
Measured: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Secondary outcomes (2)
Likert-Scale responses of contrast marking frequency conditions
5-point range from strongly dislike to strongly like
Measured: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Perception responses of contrast marking frequency conditions
Collected via auditory responses
Measured: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Jan 2026
- Study start22 Jan 2026
- Primary completionJan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Vision, LowStudies 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Four contrast frequency conditions by two lighting conditions (N = 8) will be evaluated. The four frequencies are (1) contrast markings added to all steps, (2) contrast markings added to the first, last step, (3) contrast markings added to the first, two and last, two steps, (4) no contrast markings on stairs, in both low light and standard lighting conditions
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 65 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Sara Harper, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Investigators
- Sara A Harper, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Alabama in Huntsville
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07337317
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 0011
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 1 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: We will archive our deidentified metadata to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Frequency of Contrast Enhancement on Stairways
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07337317
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 0011
- Conditions
- Vision, Low, Mobility Limitation
- Keywords
- older adults, impaired contrast sensivity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 65 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Jan 2026 (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 study is to learn if contrast frequency on step tread-edges influences foot clearance measures, a marker of fall risk, in older adults with and without visual impairments.
The main questions that aim to be answered are how foot clearance measures change across different frequencies of stair contrast, and how experiences and perceptions of different stair contrast frequencies are evaluated.
Researchers will compare individuals with and without visual impairments to see if contrast frequency on step tread-edges changes.
Participants will attend one visit during which their vision will be measured, and they will be asked to ascend and descend laboratory stairs at different contrast frequencies.
An optional second visit will entail a focus group meeting to better understand how contrast affects mobility in their home and everyday life.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Four contrast frequency conditions by two lighting conditions (N = 8) will be evaluated. The four frequencies are (1) contrast markings added to all steps, (2) contrast markings added to the first, last step, (3) contrast markings added to the first, two and last, two steps, (4) no contrast markings on stairs, in both low light and standard lighting conditions
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Other: Frequency of contrast marking on stair stepsAll participants will participate in the experimental arm, that involves a factorial model approach inwhich all participants will experience all eight conditions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- ≥ Contrast sensitivity log 1.6 or greater
- travels independently in the community, including stairways > two times/week
- comfortable ascending and descending a stairway with rest time provided
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- severe rheumatologic and or orthopedic diseases (e.g., awaiting joint replacement, active inflammatory disease)
- lower-limb injuries and/or recent joint replacements (e.g., hip fracture, hip, or knee replacement within six months of study enrollment)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency of contrast marking on stair stepsFrequency of contrast marking on stair steps will be evaluated to determine how foot clearance, perceptions in older adults with and without impaired contrast sensivity | Other | Intervention |
Primary outcome
Toe clearance
Time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Toe, foot vertical clearance on stair steps
Heel clearance
Time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
heel, foot horizontal clearance on stair steps
Frequency of <5mm toe clearances
Time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
how often <5mm toe clearances occur
Frequency of <5mm heel clearances
Time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
how often <5mm toe clearances occur
2 secondary outcomes
Likert-Scale responses of contrast marking frequency conditions
Time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Perception responses of contrast marking frequency conditions
Time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. We will archive our deidentified metadata to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).
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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.
Sara A Harper, PhD principal investigator
University of Alabama in Huntsville
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Frequency of contrast marking on stair steps in people with Vision, Low and Mobility Limitation, run by The University of Alabama in Huntsville 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 3 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 May 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Sara A Harper, PhD (2568242184, sah0075@uah.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Toe clearance (time frame: visit 1, through study completion, an average of 1 year). The study lists 4 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 1 May 2026.