Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of applying slip recovery training, a novel balance training exercise intervention, to workers who are at increased risk of slip-induced falls. This will be done via field studies with industrial partners. Note that the slip recovery training is not a device or drug. It is a detailed exercise regimen that aims to improve the the ability to recover balance after slipping.
The main specific aims are are:
- To investigate the feasibility of on-site slip recovery training
- To validate field assessments for evaluating slip recovery training efficacy in subsequent research
Participants will complete 3-6 once-weekly sessions of slip recovery training, answer daily text messages indicating any falls they experience while working over the 12 weeks after completing slip recovery training, and a subset of workers will be asked to participate in focus group discussions after the 12 weeks to provide information on the long-term feasibility of slip recovery training. A group of workers at Virginia Tech will also be asked to complete a laboratory session of testing during which they will be exposed to a laboratory-induced slip so that gold-standard measures of slip-induced fall recovery can be used to validate field assessments.
Workers who complete slip recovery training will be compared to another group of workers who complete an alternative balance training that should improve balance but not improve slip recovery that is targeted by slip recovery training.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Virginia Tech workers in Dining Services, Facilities and Housekeeping, and construction.
- Veolia field workers in water distribution and water main construction
- age 18-65 years old
- willing to complete 3 or 6 training sessions, lab testing session, and daily falls tracking for 12 weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
- weigh over 250 pounds
- answer 'no' to all questions of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire