Stepping-Up: Partnering with the Community to Prevent Early Mobility Decline

Summary

Preclinical mobility limitations (PCML) manifest early in the process of declining mobility, and are not typically identified or acted upon by clinicians. These mobility limitations manifest as changes in how daily tasks such as walking are performed (slower speed, lower endurance). Persons in the PCML stage are at increased risk for the onset of disability and chronic disease. Persistent deterioration in mobility is a predictor of mortality and has been reported even in the absence of changes in activities of daily living over a two-year period. Further, older persons with mobility limitations, including reduced gait speed, are at risk for falls. These cumulative transitions of a person's life-long mobility form their mobility trajectory and preventing mobility decline at an early stage along this trajectory is the focus of this research initiative. This study will evaluate a novel intervention, STEPPING-UP, for improving walking ability in persons with PCML.

Conditions

• Mobility Limitation

Interventions

OTHER

Stepping-Up

The intervention group will receive STEPPING-UP, a virtual 12-week, multicomponent intervention that includes tailored task-oriented motor learning exercise and a mobility self-management (SM) program.

OTHER

Telephone-Based Coaching Walking Program

The participants assigned to this group will receive a 12-week Telephone-Based Coaching Walking Program (TELE) delivered by a PT who will help participants set short and long term walking goals.

OTHER

Chair-Based Yoga Program

Participants assigned to this group will receive a virtual 12-week Chair-Based Yoga Program (YOGA), a group-based exercise control where participants will undertake a seated exercise program that includes: warm up, seated and standing yoga poses, cool down.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• YMCA Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• City of Hamilton

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• McMaster University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Julie Richardson, PhD · McMaster University

• Ayse Kuspinar, PhD · McMaster University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-04-01

Primary Completion

2025-09-30

Completion

2026-04-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations