Falls among older adults represent a major public health burden. Approximately 30% of individuals aged 65 and older experience at least one fall each year. These events can lead not only to increased anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life but also to serious injuries or even death. Key risk factors include muscle weakness, gait disturbances, and balance impairments. Lower limb asymmetry-referring to differences in strength, flexibility, composition, or functional capacity between the two legs-has emerged as a potentially important yet underexplored contributor to fall risk in the elderly population. While asymmetry is frequently studied in the context of sports and physical performance, where it may affect both injury risk and athletic outcomes, its implications for balance and mobility in older adults remain insufficiently investigated. This study aims to examine the relationship between lower limb asymmetries and fall risk, with the goal of identifying predictive indicators and informing the development of more effective fall prevention strategies. Ultimately, a better understanding of this relationship could contribute to improved quality of life for older adults and a reduction in healthcare costs associated with fall-related hospitalizations.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
65 Years
Max age
—
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* Male or female, of any ethnicity.
* Age ≥ 65 years.
* Cognitively intact.
* Independent ambulation.
* Signed and accepted informed consent to participate in all procedures required for the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Previous surgical treatments for orthopedic conditions performed within the six months prior to study inclusion.
* Severe cardiac, pulmonary, or musculoskeletal disorders that may influence the assessment outcomes.
* Comorbidities associated with increased fall risk, such as Parkinson's disease or stroke.
* Body Mass Index ≥ 30.0.
* Use of medications that affect motor coordination, balance, or bone and muscle metabolism.
* Active oncological disease.
Primary outcome measure(s)
Timed Up and Go (TUG) test — At baseline A functional mobility test measuring dynamic balance and gait efficiency. Participants stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return, and sit; longer times indicate higher fall risk.
5-Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (5-rep STS) — At baseline A lower-limb strength and functional performance test. Participants rise from a chair five times as quickly as possible; slower performance reflects reduced strength and increased fall risk.
Balance test — At baseline balance assessment is conducted using Baiobit equipment from BTS Bioengineering. The maximal balance time in monopodalic will be considered (s)
Trial sites (1)
Facility
City
Region
Status
IRCCS Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio
Milan
Milan
Recruiting
More I.R.C.C.S Ospedale Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio trials in Italy
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
We use cookies to analyse site traffic and improve your experience. With your consent, we may also use cookies for advertising. You can change your choice at any time.
