LiFE-SePBT: A Friendly Balance Program to Help Older Adults Stay Steady at Home
Official title: Combined Effects of Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise and Self-initiated Perturbation-based Balance Training on Postural Stability in Community-dwelling Older Adults: an Assessor-blinded Randomised Controlled Trial
Run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · NCT07842094 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re testing whether a light, lifestyle-based balance exercise program with small perturbations can improve balance for older adults who are at risk of falling.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 60 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 44 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hung Hom, Kowloon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 17, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 17, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07842094 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Community-dwelling adults aged 60+ who have fallen recently or feel unsteady while walking or standing, and can walk 30 minutes with or without assistance.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with uncorrected vision/hearing impairment, recent hip or knee replacement, osteoporosis, severe depression (GDS-5 ≤ 6), or certain medical conditions may not benefit or participate safely.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial compares LiFE-SePBT, a combined lifestyle-integrated functional exercise and self-initiated perturbation-based balance training, with an attention control in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and over. Participants will complete baseline assessments, then receive five 90-minute sessions over 10 weeks, with follow-up assessments to gauge immediate and four-month retention of postural stability changes. Fall incidents will be monitored for 12 months after training. The study aims to determine if LiFE-SePBT improves dynamic and reactive balance compared with usual attention, using a pragmatic design and community recruitment. Eligibility requires Cantonese or Mandarin communication, ability to walk 30 minutes, and a risk of falling or unsteadiness, among other criteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience better balance and a lower risk of falling through a practical, home-friendly training approach.
How similar studies have gone: Prior similar balance-training approaches have shown improvements in balance and reductions in fall risk in older adults, supporting the potential value of LiFE-SePBT.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Community-dwelling older adults aged 60 or older * Able to communicate effectively in Cantonese or Mandarin * Able to walk independently on level ground for at least 30 minutes * A score of ≥ 6 in the Abbreviated Mental Test (Hong Kong) * Have fallen in the preceding year, have concerns about falling, or feel unsteady while walking or standing Exclusion Criteria: * Uncorrected vision or hearing impairment * Osteoporosis * Hip or knee replacement within the last year * Resting blood pressure ≥ 160/100 mmHg even with medication taken * A score of ≤ 6 in 5-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5) * Have musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, mental, or neurological disorders that preclude their participation in the assessment or intervention safety
Where it's running
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Charlotte Sau Lan Tsang, PhD — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Study coordinator: Bryan Tsz Lok Heung, Bsc
- Email: 26119566r@connect.poly.hk
- Phone: +852-9210-2491
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.