Robotic stationary‑bike balance training to improve older adults' cycling skills
The Transfer Effects of Stationary Bicycle Perturbation Training on Older Adults' Cycling Skills and Behavior (BiPerAge): a Single Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
This study will try 20 short sessions on a robotic stationary bike that gives controlled, unexpected balance challenges to see if it helps people aged 65 and older ride more safely.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 127 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years to 100 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Nuremberg, Bavaria and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06453473 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will randomize community-dwelling adults aged 65+ to 20 sessions (20 minutes each) on a perturbation-capable stationary bicycle or to the same bike without perturbations over a three-month period. Before and after the intervention participants complete a validated on-road-style cycling course that measures a range of motor and cognitive cycling tasks to quantify cycling competence. The primary comparison is the change in cycling errors and task performance between the perturbation group and the active control group. Safety is maintained by delivering perturbations in a controlled, seated environment using the PerStBiRo robotic system.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older who can attend site visits, are able to ride a stationary bike, and make at least three errors on the pre-test cycling course.
Not a fit: People with severe heart, lung, neurological, cognitive, or musculoskeletal conditions, recent lower-limb surgery, amputations, or those unable to walk independently are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the training could reduce cycling errors and lower the risk of falls and injuries during everyday cycling for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: While balance and perturbation training in other settings have shown some transfer to mobility tasks, using a perturbation-capable stationary bicycle specifically to improve cycling competence is a novel approach with limited prior testing.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Ability and willingness to provide informed consent and accept randomization to either study arm * Ability to come to cycle course testing locations * ≥3 errors in pre-test of cycle course Exclusion Criteria: * Severe diseases e.g. ischemic heart disease which restricts exercise, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), uncontrolled blood pressure, manifest osteoporosis or any other disease leading to increased fracture risks * A period less than one year after hip or knee replacement surgery or after fractures of the lower extremities * Amputation of a lower limb * Neurological diseases or 6-month after a stroke * Inability to ambulate independently * Severe visual impairments (blindness), non-compensable hearing * Cognitive impairment, scoring less than 24 on the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), inability to understand and follow instructions * Participation in another intervention trial at the same time or within the previous 6 months
Where this trial is running
Nuremberg, Bavaria and 1 other locations
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Biomedizin des Alterns — Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany (Recruiting)
- Physical Therapy department, faculty of health sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev — Beersheba, Israel (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Robert Kob, PhD — Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, Friederich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Study coordinator: Robert Kob, PhD
- Email: robert.kob@fau.de
- Phone: +49 911 530296624
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.