ArticleEuropean review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity2025
Dose-response relationship of treadmill perturbation-based balance training for improving reactive balance in older adults at risk of falling: results of the FEATURE randomized controlled pilot trial.
Article in European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Perturbation-based balance training on treadmills for falls prevention in older adults: a review of training protocols and reporting recommendations (ProRePBT).BMC geriatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Optimal Reactive Balance Training Characteristics Poststroke: Secondary Analysis of a Clinical Trial.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026Article
- Acceptability of treadmill perturbation-based balance training in older adults at risk of falling: A mixed-methods evaluation of participant and trainer perspectives.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2026Article
- Article
- [A good stumbler doesn't fall! : Treadmill perturbation-based balance training in geriatric rehabilitation].Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe inability to appropriately react to balance perturbations is a common cause of falls. Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) is especially beneficial for improving reactive balance and shows high potential for fall prevention. However, its dose-response relationship, feasibility, and acceptability remain to be determined among older adults at risk of falling. The FEATURE study aimed to compare the efficacy of two treadmill PBT protocols with different session numbers to improve reactive balance, and to evaluate their feasibility and acceptability in this population.
methodsIn this randomized controlled pilot trial, 36 older adults at risk of falling were allocated to receive either six (6PBT) or two treadmill PBT sessions (2PBT). Reactive balance in standing (Stepping Threshold Test [STT]) and walking (Dynamic Stepping Threshold Test [DSTT]) was assessed as primary outcome at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 6-week follow-up (T3). Secondary outcomes included measures on physical, psychological, and cognitive functioning. Feasibility was assessed via PBT adherence, planned perturbations completed, and adverse events; acceptability via questionnaire. Between-group changes over time were compared using repeated-measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc tests. Data analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle.
resultsA significant time effect was observed for the DSTT (p = 0.008), with both groups significantly improving from T1 to T2 (ps < 0.01). A significant interaction effect (p = 0.027) revealed that only the 6PBT group maintained these improvements (T1 vs. T3: p < 0.001) and scored significantly higher than the 2PBT group at T3 (p = 0.015). No significant interaction effects were found for the STT or any secondary outcome, but improvements over time were observed for dynamic balance, gait capacity, functional mobility, physical activity, concerns about falling, and executive functioning (time effects: ps < 0.05). PBT adherence, planned perturbations completed, and acceptability were high in both groups, with no significant between-group differences. No intervention-related serious adverse events were reported.
conclusionsFindings suggest that a low number of treadmill PBT sessions can lead to task-specific improvements in reactive balance during walking, with a higher practice dose enhancing sustainability. Treadmill PBT appears feasible and well-accepted among older adults at risk of falling, regardless of sessions received.
trial registrationDRKS00030805 ; prospectively registered December 14, 2022.
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