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Falls are the leading cause of accidental death in older Americans. Often, people who fall down have simply lost their balance, something that becomes more common with age. Other conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, muscle loss or stroke, can also affect balance.

If you’ve fallen down at least twice in the past year, or if you’ve had a stroke, you may benefit from one of several studies underway in downtown Baltimore. Researchers at the Veterans Administration (VA) and University of Maryland School of Medicine are seeking older adults from 60 to 86 to participate in one of three studies related to balance.

Each of the clinical trials will assess whether or not certain training exercises can help improve people’s balance — and subsequently their confidence.

Improve balance by reaching

The full name of one study is “A Balanced Reach Training Platform to Address Balance Disorders in Older and Neurologically Disabled Veterans,” but you don’t need to be a veteran to participate.

First, people will visit the Maryland VA clinic in downtown Baltimore for an assessment.

“We test their fear of falling, and we also test their balance,” said Dr. Jay Barton, principal investigator of the studies and a researcher at the VA and University of Maryland School of Medicine. The assessment will take place over two half-day visits.

“Our hypothesis is that if balance improves, then fear of falling will decrease.”

Following the assessment, participants will attend one-hour training sessions at the VA clinic three times a week for six weeks. Free parking and compensation will be provided.

Finally, they’ll complete the same tests and questionnaires as they did on the first day.

“Those assessments are done immediately after training and then six weeks later to see how much of the training they’ve retained for the long term,” Barton explained.

Studies for post-stroke patients

Two closely related studies will focus on people who have suffered a stroke but can still walk. They’ll visit the VA clinic for one-hour training sessions, three times a week, for either one or six weeks.

Again, these studies are open to all qualified older adults, not just veterans. Parking in the attached garage is free, and compensation is available.

In the one-week study, stroke survivors will play a game wearing a virtual-reality headset. They’ll see a three-dimensional image of a ball, which they will try to reach.

Since virtual reality goggles can make some people dizzy, researchers will be standing close by to ensure participants’ safety.

“This study is short because we need to test the validity of virtual reality [in this population],” Barton said. “We need to establish that stroke subjects can tolerate virtual reality,” he said.

In a similar game-like situation, the other study for stroke survivors lasts six weeks (with a follow-up visit six weeks after that). Subjects will stand in front of a large projection screen and point to a moving image of a disk.

“The person has to start leaning to one side or another,” Barton said, “and they’ll reach a point when they no longer can track the disk accurately [because] the disk moves beyond their reach.

“That’s the basic test, and it’s also the basic training,” he said.

In the one-hour training sessions, researchers will challenge subjects to improve their reach — and perhaps their balance and confidence, too.

Confused about which study is most appropriate for you? Just call, and “We can sort them into the right study,” Barton said.

The Maryland VA Clinic Annex is located at 209 West Fayette Street in downtown Baltimore.

If you’re interested in finding out more about any of the three studies, call (410) 605-7179 and mention “BALRCH.”