AgingNCT07870486
Effects of Otago Exercise Combined With Short-Foot Exercise in Older Adults
A study testing Otago Exercise Programme and Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise in people with Aging, run by Pamukkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The Otago Exercise Programme is a multicomponent exercise approach targeting strength, balance, and mobility in older adults. Short-foot exercises are designed to improve intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aging
- What is being tested?
- Otago Exercise Programme and Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2026to 30 Apr 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
- Willing to participate and provide written informed consent.
- Aged 65 years or older.
- Residing in the nursing home where the study will be conducted for at least 3 months.
- Able to understand and follow test instructions, with a Standardized Mini-Mental Test score ≥24.
- Able to walk at least 30 meters without physical assistance from another person.
- Able to stand with eyes open for at least 30 seconds and safely complete sit-to-stand and balance assessments.
- Able to perform the target ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion angles without pain or marked restriction of active range of motion.
- Navicular Drop Test result between 6 and 9 mm.
Who cannot join
- History of neurological or neurodegenerative disease that may substantially affect postural control, proprioception, or motor responses, including stroke sequelae, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, advanced dementia, or marked cerebellar disorders.
- Cardiopulmonary, vestibular, or systemic disease that may prevent safe completion of the interventions or assessments.
- Diagnosed peripheral neuropathy, marked lower-extremity sensory loss, or diabetic neuropathy.
- Use of an assistive device.
- Lower-extremity amputation, prosthesis use, or severe structural deformity interfering with foot or ankle assessment.
- Pain, instability, or severe range-of-motion limitation in the ankle, knee, or hip that prevents completion of the tests.
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- History of lower-extremity fracture, surgery, or major trauma within the previous 6 months.
- Musculoskeletal injury of the foot, ankle, or lower extremity within the previous 3 months that limits participation in functional testing.
- Open wound, ulcer, active skin lesion, or infection in the foot or ankle region that interferes with sensor or measurement placement.
- Recent initiation of, or dose change in, medication that may affect balance, alertness, or motor performance.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Horsunlu Nursing Home Care and Rehabilitation Center
Aydin
Fatma Aksu, MSc, +90 256 387 62 10, ftmaks97@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Additional Effects of Short-Foot Exercises Combined With the Otago Exercise Programme on Balance, Ankle Joint Position Sense, and Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Randomized Comparative Study
The Otago Exercise Programme is a multicomponent exercise approach targeting strength, balance, and mobility in older adults. Short-foot exercises are designed to improve intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control. This randomized comparative study will investigate whether adding short-foot exercises to the Otago Exercise Programme provides additional benefits in older adults.
Read the detailed description
Age-related changes in sensory processing, proprioception, muscle strength, and postural control may contribute to impaired balance and reduced functional mobility in older adults. The ankle-foot complex plays an important role in postural control by providing mechanical support and sensory information during standing and walking. Changes in ankle proprioception, ankle muscle function, and foot posture may therefore influence balance-related performance in older adults.
The Otago Exercise Programme is a structured, multicomponent exercise approach developed to improve lower extremity strength, balance, and walking ability in older adults. Short-foot exercises specifically target the intrinsic foot muscles and active control of the medial longitudinal arch. The addition of short-foot exercises to a conventional balance and strengthening programme may provide a complementary approach by addressing foot-related neuromuscular control.
In this randomized comparative study, participants will be assigned to either the Otago Exercise Programme alone or the Otago Exercise Programme combined with Short-Foot Exercises. Both interventions will be administered under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks, twice weekly. The study will compare the effects of these two exercise approaches and evaluate whether the addition of short-foot exercises provides further benefit beyond the Otago Exercise Programme alone.
- Conditions
- Aging
- Being tested
- Otago Exercise Programme, Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise
- Keywords
- Older Adults, Balance, Joint Position Sense, Muscle Strength, Fear of Falling, Foot Posture
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Otago Exercise ProgrammeBehavioural
The Otago Exercise Programme will be delivered under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks, 2 days per week, for a total of 16 sessions. Each session will last 50 minutes and will include warm-up, lower extremity strengthening, static and dynamic balance exercises, functional balance and walking tasks, and cool-down. Exercises will be progressively adjusted according to participant performance and safety.
Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot ExerciseBehavioural
The combined intervention will be delivered under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks, 2 days per week, for a total of 16 sessions. Each 60-minute session will include 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of Short-Foot Exercises, 40 minutes of Otago exercises, and 5 minutes of cool-down. Short-Foot Exercises will target intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control and will progress from sitting to standing, mini-squat, and soft-surface standing according to participant performance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Otago Exercise Programme | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive a supervised Otago Exercise Programme for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. Each 50-minute session will consist of 5 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of Otago exercises, and 5 minutes of cool-down. The Otago component will include lower extremity strengthening, static and dynamic balance exercises, and functional balance and walking tasks. Exercise difficulty will be progressively adjusted according to individual performance and safety. Receives: Behavioral: Otago Exercise Programme |
| Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise | Experimental | Participants in this arm will receive the Otago Exercise Programme combined with Short-Foot Exercises for 8 weeks, with 2 supervised sessions per week. Each 60-minute session will include 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of Short-Foot Exercises, 40 minutes of Otago exercises, and 5 minutes of cool-down. Short-Foot Exercises will target intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control by drawing the first metatarsal head toward the heel without toe flexion. Exercises will progress from sitting to standing, mini-squat, and soft-surface standing. Three blocks of 12 repetitions will be performed, with each contraction held for 5 seconds and 2 minutes of rest between blocks. Receives: Behavioral: Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS
Lower-extremity functional capacity will be assessed using the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS). Participants will sit on a standard-height chair without armrests, with the arms crossed over the chest, and will be instructed to stand up fully and sit down five consecutive times as quickly as possible. The time from initiation of the first stand to completion of the fifth sitting will be recorded in seconds. Lower completion times indicate better functional performance
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Secondary outcomes (5)
Dynamic Balance - Mini-BESTest
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Mini-BESTest, a 14-item clinical balance test evaluating anticipatory postural adjustments, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, and dynamic gait. Each item is scored from 0 to 2, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 28. Higher scores indicate better dynamic balance performance.
Measured: aseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Ankle Joint Position Sense
Ankle joint position sense will be assessed using the KFORCE Sens® electrogoniometer at target angles of 10° dorsiflexion and 20° plantar flexion. After passive positioning at the target angle, participants will actively reproduce the target position with eyes closed. Joint position sense error will be calculated as the absolute difference, in degrees, between the target and reproduced angles. Three trials will be performed for each movement direction, and the mean value will be used. Lower error values indicate better joint position sense.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Ankle Muscle Strength
Ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscle strength will be assessed using the JTECH PowerTrack II Commander hand-held dynamometer. Three measurements will be performed for each muscle group, and the mean value will be used for analysis. Higher force values indicate greater muscle strength.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I)
Fear of falling will be assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). The scale consists of 16 items, each scored from 1 to 4, resulting in a total score ranging from 16 to 64. Higher scores indicate greater concern about falling.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Navicular Drop Test
Foot posture will be assessed using the Navicular Drop Test. The vertical distance from the navicular tuberosity to the floor will be measured in a seated subtalar-neutral position and again during relaxed bilateral standing. The difference between the two measurements will be recorded in millimeters as the navicular drop value. Higher values indicate greater medial longitudinal arch collapse and pronation tendency.
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Oct 2026
- Study start30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AgingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Pamukkale UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomized, two-arm, parallel-group trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the Otago Exercise Programme group or the Otago Exercise Programme combined with Short-Foot Exercise group. Interventions will be delivered for 8 weeks, with 2 supervised sessions per week. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Pamukkale University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tuba CAN AKMAN, Pamukkale University
- Investigators
- Tuba Can Akman, PhD, Principal investigator, Pamukkale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07870486
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PU-FTR-MI-04
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 6 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Additional Effects of Short-Foot Exercises Combined With the Otago Exercise Programme on Balance, Ankle Joint Position Sense, and Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Randomized Comparative Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07870486
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PU-FTR-MI-04
- Conditions
- Aging
- Keywords
- Older Adults, Balance, Joint Position Sense, Muscle Strength, Fear of Falling, Foot Posture
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Pamukkale UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Oct 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 Otago Exercise Programme is a multicomponent exercise approach targeting strength, balance, and mobility in older adults. Short-foot exercises are designed to improve intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control. This randomized comparative study will investigate whether adding short-foot exercises to the Otago Exercise Programme provides additional benefits in older adults.
Detailed description
Age-related changes in sensory processing, proprioception, muscle strength, and postural control may contribute to impaired balance and reduced functional mobility in older adults. The ankle-foot complex plays an important role in postural control by providing mechanical support and sensory information during standing and walking. Changes in ankle proprioception, ankle muscle function, and foot posture may therefore influence balance-related performance in older adults.
The Otago Exercise Programme is a structured, multicomponent exercise approach developed to improve lower extremity strength, balance, and walking ability in older adults. Short-foot exercises specifically target the intrinsic foot muscles and active control of the medial longitudinal arch. The addition of short-foot exercises to a conventional balance and strengthening programme may provide a complementary approach by addressing foot-related neuromuscular control.
In this randomized comparative study, participants will be assigned to either the Otago Exercise Programme alone or the Otago Exercise Programme combined with Short-Foot Exercises. Both interventions will be administered under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks, twice weekly. The study will compare the effects of these two exercise approaches and evaluate whether the addition of short-foot exercises provides further benefit beyond the Otago Exercise Programme alone.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Randomized, two-arm, parallel-group trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the Otago Exercise Programme group or the Otago Exercise Programme combined with Short-Foot Exercise group. Interventions will be delivered for 8 weeks, with 2 supervised sessions per week. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Otago Exercise Programme | Experimental | Behavioral: Otago Exercise ProgrammeParticipants in this arm will receive a supervised Otago Exercise Programme for 8 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. Each 50-minute session will consist of 5 minutes of warm-up, 40 minutes of Otago exercises, and 5 minutes of cool-down. The Otago component will include lower extremity strengthening, static and dynamic balance exercises, and functional balance and walking tasks. Exercise difficulty will be progressively adjusted according to individual performance and safety. |
| Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot ExerciseParticipants in this arm will receive the Otago Exercise Programme combined with Short-Foot Exercises for 8 weeks, with 2 supervised sessions per week. Each 60-minute session will include 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of Short-Foot Exercises, 40 minutes of Otago exercises, and 5 minutes of cool-down. Short-Foot Exercises will target intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control by drawing the first metatarsal head toward the heel without toe flexion. Exercises will progress from sitting to standing, mini-squat, and soft-surface standing. Three blocks of 12 repetitions will be performed, with each contraction held for 5 seconds and 2 minutes of rest between blocks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Willing to participate and provide written informed consent.
- Aged 65 years or older.
- Residing in the nursing home where the study will be conducted for at least 3 months.
- Able to understand and follow test instructions, with a Standardized Mini-Mental Test score ≥24.
- Able to walk at least 30 meters without physical assistance from another person.
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- History of neurological or neurodegenerative disease that may substantially affect postural control, proprioception, or motor responses, including stroke sequelae, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, advanced dementia, or marked cerebellar disorders.
- Cardiopulmonary, vestibular, or systemic disease that may prevent safe completion of the interventions or assessments.
- Diagnosed peripheral neuropathy, marked lower-extremity sensory loss, or diabetic neuropathy.
- Use of an assistive device.
- Lower-extremity amputation, prosthesis use, or severe structural deformity interfering with foot or ankle assessment.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Otago Exercise ProgrammeThe Otago Exercise Programme will be delivered under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks, 2 days per week, for a total of 16 sessions. Each session will last 50 minutes and will include warm-up, lower extremity strengthening, static and dynamic balance exercises, functional balance and walking tasks, and cool-down. Exercises will be progressively adjusted according to participant performance and safety. | Behavioural | Otago Exercise Programme |
| Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot ExerciseThe combined intervention will be delivered under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks, 2 days per week, for a total of 16 sessions. Each 60-minute session will include 5 minutes of warm-up, 10 minutes of Short-Foot Exercises, 40 minutes of Otago exercises, and 5 minutes of cool-down. Short-Foot Exercises will target intrinsic foot muscle activation and medial longitudinal arch control and will progress from sitting to standing, mini-squat, and soft-surface standing according to participant performance. | Behavioural | Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise |
Primary outcome
Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Lower-extremity functional capacity will be assessed using the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS). Participants will sit on a standard-height chair without armrests, with the arms crossed over the chest, and will be instructed to stand up fully and sit down five consecutive times as quickly as possible. The time from initiation of the first stand to completion of the fifth sitting will be recorded in seconds. Lower completion times indicate better functional performance
5 secondary outcomes
Dynamic Balance - Mini-BESTest
Time frame: aseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Ankle Joint Position Sense
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Ankle Muscle Strength
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
Navicular Drop Test
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).
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 14 Oct 2026.
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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.
Tuba Can Akman, PhD principal investigator
Pamukkale 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 Otago Exercise Programme and Otago Exercise Programme + Short-Foot Exercise in people with Aging, run by Pamukkale University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 8 inclusion and 10 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Oct 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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 Fatma Aksu, MSc (+90 256 387 62 10, ftmaks97@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (Week 8).). 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 14 Oct 2026.