A Balanced Reach Training Platform to Help Balance in Older Veterans
Official title: A Balanced Reach Training Platform to Address Balance Disorders in Older and Neurologically Disabled Veterans
Funded at Baltimore VA Medical Center · NIH-11513473 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new training program uses balance challenges to improve posture and movement in older veterans who are at risk of falls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2020 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003096-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11513473 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults, especially veterans, who are at risk of falls and have balance impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without balance problems or those not engaging in the BRTP may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a Balanced Reach Training Protocol (BRTP) that pushes people to reach limits of balance during tasks, with incremental improvements over time. It uses engineering-based methods to study how aging and disease affect balance, to better diagnose and treat fall risk. The work targets older veterans who are more vulnerable to falls and seeks to translate complex balance science into practical training that strengthens stability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce fall risk and improve daily functioning for older veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Engineering-based balance training has shown promise, but the BRTP aims to extend this with real-world balance challenges.
Where this research is happening
-
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barton, Joseph Edward — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Barton, Joseph Edward
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.