Balance on the Brain: a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of a multimodal exercise programme on physical performance, falls, quality of life and cognition for people with mild cognitive impairment—study protocol
Rachael Moorin,
Kathryn A Ellis,
Keith Hill,
Anne-Marie Hill,
Nicola Lautenschlager,
Shannon Williams,
Elissa Burton,
Kirk I Erickson,
Sarah Bernard,
Roger Clarnette,
Carolyn F Orr,
Meggen Lowry,
Joanne A McVeigh,
Angela Jacques,
Joel Tate,
Luke Bongiascia,
Melanie L Clark
Affiliations
Rachael Moorin
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Kathryn A Ellis
The Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Keith Hill
Rehabilitation Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Anne-Marie Hill
School of Allied Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nicola Lautenschlager
UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Shannon Williams
Neurogenetic Clinic and Physiotherapy Department, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Elissa Burton
Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University—Perth City Campus, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Kirk I Erickson
AdventHealth Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, Florida, USA
Sarah Bernard
Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Roger Clarnette
Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Carolyn F Orr
Cognitive Clinic, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Meggen Lowry
Next Step Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Joanne A McVeigh
Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Angela Jacques
Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Joel Tate
Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Armadale Health Service, Armadale, Western Australia, Australia
Luke Bongiascia
Physiotherapy Department, Adult Community and Allied Health Directorate, Rockingham Peel Group, Rockingham, Western Australia, Australia
Melanie L Clark
Neurosciences Unit, North Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Introduction Exercise and physical activity have been shown to improve cognition for people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). There is strong evidence for the benefits of aerobic exercise and medium evidence for participating in regular strength training for people with MCI. However, people living with MCI fall two times as often as those without cognitive impairment and the evidence is currently unknown as to whether balance training for people with MCI is beneficial, as has been demonstrated for older people without cognitive impairment. The aim of this study is to determine whether a balance-focused multimodal exercise intervention improves balance and reduces falls for people with MCI, compared with a control group receiving usual care.Methods and analysis This single blind randomised controlled trial (Balance on the Brain) will be offered to 396 people with MCI living in the community. The multimodal exercise intervention consists of two balance programmes and a walking programme to be delivered by physiotherapists over a 6-month intervention period. All participants will be followed up over 12 months (for the intervention group, this involves 6-month intervention and 6-month maintenance). The primary outcomes are (1) balance performance and (2) rate of falls. Physical performance, levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, quality of life and cognition are secondary outcomes. A health economic analysis will be undertaken to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared with usual care.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval has been received from the South Metropolitan Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), Curtin University HREC and the Western Australia Department of Health HREC; and approval has been received to obtain data for health costings from Services Australia. The results will be disseminated through peer-review publications, conference presentations and online platforms.Trial registration number ACTRN12620001037998; Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR).
