Comparison of Smartphone and Community-Based Delivery of the Otago Exercise Program for Fall Risk in Older Adults

Part of paid clinical trials in Binghamton, New York.

Sponsor
Binghamton University
Study ID
NCT07433153
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Fall
  • Frail Elderly

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
55 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Smartphone-Based Intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in the smartphone-based group will receive Otago Exercise Program instructions delivered through Improve, an investigator-developed application. This application, installed on each participant's iOS or Android smartphone, will allow participants to track their exercises and review workout instructions. Participants in the smartphone-based group will be contacted weekly by phone to ensure safety and adherence and to assist with troubleshooting any technology-related issues. All participants will be instructed to maintain their usual activity patterns and to refrain from initiating any new structured physical activity programs during the 8-week study period. Participants will be directed by Doctor of Physical Therapy students under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist, with weekly phone check-ins.
  • Group-Based Intervention — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in the in-person, community-based group will complete the individualized Otago Exercise Program in a group setting at the Johnson City Senior Center, under the guidance of Doctor of Physical Therapy students (4) and supervision of licensed Physical Therapists.

Study Details

The long-term goal of this project is to effectively bridge the research-clinic-community gap and to foster partnerships that support the implementation, utilization, and advocacy of evidence-based fall prevention programs in the older adult community. The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is an evidence-based fall prevention program that has been shown to reduce falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. Traditionally, OEP is delivered in the home by a physical therapist and focuses on muscle strengthening and balance training. Despite its proven effectiveness, adherence and compliance rates have been low. The personnel and resource demands of program delivery, along with challenges in monitoring participant adherence, represent significant barriers to broader implementation. Alternative delivery systems using remote and community-based platforms may help address these limitations. Specific Aim 1: To compare the effectiveness of two delivery modes of the Otago Exercise Program: a remotely delivered, home-based smartphone program and an in-person, community-based program. Specific Aim 2: To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the Otago Exercise Program delivered through both smartphone-based and in-person formats.

Key Dates

Start date
Feb 16, 2026
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Dec 1, 2026
Completion
Dec 1, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Smartphone In-home Delivery
    In-home 8-week OTAGO program
  • Active Comparator: Group In-Person Delivery
    In-Person 8-week Group OTAGO Program

Primary Outcome Measure

Gait Velocity [ Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0) and 1 week post-training (9 weeks later) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Binghamton UniversityBinghamtonNew York13902
Vipul Lugade, PhD
[email protected]
6077774700

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By research site
Binghamton University· Binghamton, NY

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