The Effects of Light-Targeted Balance Training on Balance, Functional Performance, and Fear of Falling in Individuals With a History of Falls

August 27, 2026 updated by: Uskudar University

The Effects of Light-Targeted Balance Training on Balance, Functional Performance, and Fear of Falling in Individuals With a History of Falls: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In recent years, exercise programs based on visual stimuli have been reported to improve balance and motor control . However, studies investigating the effects of light-targeted balance training on balance, functional performance, and fear of falling in individuals with a history of falls are limited.

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of light-targeted balance training on balance, functional performance, and fear of falling in individuals with a history of falls. In addition, the study aims to investigate whether this training method provides additional benefits compared with traditional balance training. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of rehabilitation programs aimed at preventing falls.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Having experienced at least one fall within the previous 12 months.
  2. Being 18 years of age or older.
  3. Being able to walk independently or with the assistance of a walking aid.
  4. Being able to understand and follow verbal and visual instructions.
  5. Providing voluntary consent to participate in the study and signing the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Presence of an acute orthopedic injury or an active musculoskeletal condition causing pain.
  2. Having undergone lower extremity surgery within the previous 6 months.
  3. Having advanced neurological disorders (e.g., advanced Parkinson's disease, advanced dementia).
  4. Having severe vestibular dysfunction or significant visual impairment.
  5. Having a cardiovascular condition that contraindicates exercise.
  6. Having advanced systemic diseases that significantly impair balance.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • History of at least one fall within the past 12 months
  • Age 18 years or older
  • Ability to walk independently or with an assistive device
  • Ability to understand and follow verbal and visual instructions
  • Voluntary participation in the study and provision of written informed consent by signing the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Acute orthopedic injury or an active musculoskeletal condition causing pain
  • History of lower extremity surgery within the past 6 months
  • Advanced neurological disorders (e.g., advanced Parkinson's disease, advanced dementia)
  • Severe vestibular dysfunction or significant visual impairment
  • Medical conditions that contraindicate exercise due to severe cardiovascular disease
  • Advanced systemic diseases that severely affect balance

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Experimental Group
Participants in this group will receive light-targeted balance training in addition to the standard program.
Behavioral: Light- Targeted Balance Training
Exercises aimed at improving coordination, balance, and functional performance using visual and auditory cues.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Participants in this group will receive standard balance exercises.
Behavioral: Standard Balance Training
Conventional balance training exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Balance Performance (Berg Balance Scale)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Balance performance is assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The scale consists of 14 functional tasks scored from 0 to 4. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, where higher scores indicate better balance and lower fall risk.
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Functional Mobility (Timed Up and Go Test - TUG)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Dynamic balance and mobility are assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The time (in seconds) taken to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down is recorded. Shorter completion times indicate better mobility.
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Change in Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Dynamic postural control is evaluated using the Y-Balance Test (YBT) in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach directions for both lower extremities. Reach distance is normalized to limb length ((reach distance / limb length) x 100) and composite scores are calculated.
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Change in Lower Body Strength (30-Second Chair Stand Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Lower extremity functional muscle strength is measured using the 30-Second Chair Stand Test. The total number of full stands completed from a seated position in 30 seconds is recorded. A higher number of repetitions indicates greater lower body strength.
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Change in Gait Speed (10-Meter Walk Test - 10MWT)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Walking speed is assessed using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). Participants walk a 10-meter course at their comfortable and/or fast walking pace, and the time taken (in seconds) to traverse the intermediate 6 meters is recorded to calculate gait speed (m/s).
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Change in Fear of Falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International - FES-I)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Fear of falling is evaluated using the 16-item Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (not at all concerned) to 4 (very concerned). Total score ranges from 16 to 64, with higher scores reflecting greater fear of falling.
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Change in Balance Confidence (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale - ABC)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention
Balance confidence is measured using the 16-item Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. Participants rate their confidence in performing specific activities without losing balance on a scale from 0% to 100%. The overall score is the mean percentage across all items.
Baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Uskudar University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 31, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 31, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 27, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 61351342/020-2288

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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