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Intermittent Visual Perturbations to Enhance Balance Training

University of Florida · with National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) · NCT06804512

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–89 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Early Phase 1
Target enrollment
540
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
August 20, 2024
Record last updated
February 10, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The purpose of this research study is to determine if intermittent visual perturbations can improve balance training. The investigators will quantify differences in body movement, muscle activity, and beam walking performance during and after practice walking on a balance beam that is 1" high. The investigators will ask the participants to come to the laboratory twice (2 sessions). The first session will not last more than 3 hours. The second session will not last more than 1 hour and will be two weeks after the first session. In total, the maximum amount of time the participant would be asked to participate is 4 hours.

Being studied: Visual Occlusion Goggles; Balance Beam Walking

Conditions: Balance

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Ages 18-30 years, or 65-89 years.
  • Ability to walk independently for 10 minutes continuously.
  • Willingness to be randomized to any experimental group and to participate in all aspects of study assessment and intervention

Exclusion Criteria

-Major cognitive disorder that interferes with independence, based on affirmative response (always/usually/sometimes) to the following question: "As a result of confusion or memory loss, how often do you need assistance with day-to-day activities such as cooking, cleaning, taking medications, driving, or paying bills? Would you say it is 1) Always; 2) Usually; 3) Sometimes; 4) Rarely; or 5) Never".

  • Current or recent (within 6 months) lower limb musculoskeletal injury that causes pain during walking or limits walking ability.
  • History of neurological injury or disability (including spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis).
  • Difficulty communicating with study personnel.
  • Current enrollment in any other clinical trial.
  • Low vision that cannot be corrected by wearing contact lens. Low vision will be operationally defined as visual acuity less than 20/70 on standard eye chart, or difficulty perform complex walking tasks due to visual conditions affecting accurate navigation around and over obstacles (self-reported or observed by examiner). The goggles to be used in the study do not permit eyeglasses while using them.
  • Illiterate or non-English speaking, due to the likelihood of difficulties following protocol instructions.

Recruiting US locations

  • The University of Florida

    Gainesville, FL 32611

    Site contact: Daniel P Ferris, Ph.D. · 734-834-0379 · dferris@bme.ufl.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Daniel P Ferris, Ph.D. · 734-834-0379 · dferris@bme.ufl.edu
  • Ethan T Swierski, B.S. · 716-399-7761 · eswierski@ufl.edu
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Intermittent Visual Perturbations to Enhance Balance Training (NCT06804512) | Bored Studies