RESEARCH STUDIES

VOLUNTEERS needed for current study:

The effects of intrinsic foot muscle strengthening interventions on balance and falls in adults over age 65.

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate how foot strengthening activities and other exercise activities affect balance and prevention of falls.

Eligibility Criteria

Adults ages 65 and older who can walk household distances with or without an assistive device and who are at risk of falling are invited to participate.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

You cannot participate if you have poor foot sensation, a lower
extremity amputation, a vestibular disorder, have recently participated
in a fall-prevention program, are unable to follow verbal and written
instructions, or have had an injury or surgery to your low back or legs 6
months prior to entering the study.

What to Expect

You will be asked to participate in this study for 1 year and meet with researchers 7 times. This would require you to complete a screening for eligibility (1 hour), a baseline measurement and exercise instruction session (1.5 hours), perform a specific activity 5 days per week for 4 months (10-30 minutes per day), record your participation in a written journal during the 4-month period, record any falls that occur for 1 year after you start participation, and to attend 5 follow-up instruction or measurement sessions (30minutes to 1.5 hours each). Researchers will contact you twice per month by phone or email to collect your journal entries and answer your questions.

Possible Benefits

Either at the start or conclusion of the study, participants will receive 2 in-person training sessions from a physical therapist or physical therapy student to learn exercise activities. These methods have been reported to possibly improve balance, or enhance foot sensation, or allow people to feel more confident when walking.
Some participants may receive a free pair of footwear. All participants will receive a free pedometer, a $25 gift card upon entering the study, and another $25 gift card upon completing the 4 month exercise period.

Locations

This research study will be conducted at the Springfield College Department of Physical Therapy, at the Loomis Lakeside Reed's Landing facility, and at City of Springfield Senior Centers.

Publications:

Futrell EE, Roberts D, Toole E. The effects of intrinsic foot muscle strengthening on functional mobility in older adults: A systematic review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2022;70(2):531-540. doi:10.1111/jgs.17541

Futrell, EE, Reisman, DS, R, Mullineaux, DR, Davis, IS. Effects of a Cognitive Distraction Task on Gait Mechanics in Recently Gait-Retrained Runners. Int J Sports Exerc Med. 2022;8(1). doi:10.23937/2469-5718/1510215

Roberts DE, Futrell EE, Toole E. Submaximal Walking Tests: A Review of Clinical Use. Journal of Clinical Exercise Physiology. 2022;11(2):62-74. doi:10.31189/2165-6193-11.2.62

Futrell EE, Gross KD, Mullineaux DR, Davis IS. Exerted running results in altered impact mechanics and footstrike patterns following gait retraining. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2021;39(11):1302-1311. doi:10.1080/02640414.2020.1868089

Futrell EE, Gross KD, Reisman D, Mullineaux DR, Davis IS. Transition to forefoot strike reduces load rates more effectively than altered cadence. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2020;9(3):248-257. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2019.07.006

Futrell EE, Jamison ST, Tenforde AS, Davis IS. Relationships between habitual cadence, footstrike, and vertical load rates in runners: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2018;50(9):1837-1841.

Davis IS, Futrell EE. Gait Retraining: Altering the fingerprint of gait. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2016;27(1):339-55.

Foot Intrinsic Testing and Training Lab