Obstacle Negotiation in Older People With and Without Vision Impairment

Conditions

• Low Vision

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Obstacle characteristics — OTHER
  In the walking trials, when an obstacle is present, the obstacle height and obstacle contrast level will be varied across the trial repetitions. Each participant will be exposed to obstacles of two heights: the first will be 1 centimeter in height, and the second will be approximately 20% of the subject's leg length (ranging in physical height between 15 - 22 centimeters to cover a range of leg lengths in the population). Obstacles (of both heights) will also be painted such that their measured luminance (or contrast) level against the floor luminance is varied. High contrast obstacles will have ≥80% Michelson contrast and low contrast obstacles will have ≤30% Michelson contrast.

Study Details

Falls are common among people with vision impairment and can lead to devastating health consequences. Understanding the functions of vision and how the visual characteristics of obstacles in the walking path impact the gait of people with vision impairment is necessary to create strategies to prevent falls in this population. The purpose of this study is to determine how adults with vision impairment change their gait behavior when stepping over obstacles that vary in height and contrast to the ground. We will then determine the mechanisms of gaze behavior that correlate to the gait behavior.

Key Dates

Start date

Apr 14, 2023

Status verified

Nov 2025

Primary completion

Dec 31, 2028

Completion

Dec 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment

200 participants (estimated)

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

• Experimental: Low Vision Group
  At a single study visit, the group of low vision participants will be asked to perform a series of short walking trials. During each trial they will walk at a self-selected speed along a walkway (6 meters in length) that may or may not contain an obstacle to step over. The trials will be randomly varied with regard to an obstacle's presence, height, and contrast from the walkway surface. Repeated trials of each condition variation will be performed during the visit.
• Active Comparator: Control Group
  At a single study visit, the group of age-matched participants without low vision will be asked to perform a series of short walking trials. During each trial they will walk at a self-selected speed along a walkway (6 meters in length) that may or may not contain an obstacle to step over. The trials will be randomly varied with regard to an obstacle's presence, height, and contrast from the walkway surface. Repeated trials of each condition variation will be performed during the visit.

Primary Outcome Measure

Vertical foot clearance, lead limb [ Time Frame: During a single intervention visit (Study Visit 2), up to 2-3 hours in duration. ]

Central Contacts

• Kierstyn A Napier-Dovorany, OD
  8128554426
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Bloomington, IN

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