Effect of Treadmill Perturbation Training on Falls

"The treadmill perturbation training will be performed on a computer-controlled treadmill. The perturbation will be induced by fast forward (slip) or backward (trip) accelerations of the treadmill at specific gait cycle timings. The perturbations will be delivered randomly to enhance the unpredictability. A ceiling-mounted body-harness ensures the safety of the participants.~Participants will be assigned to three initial sessions of treadmill slip- and trip-perturbation training on two days separated by a week and a booster-session after six months. On day 1, participants will first undergo a session 1 with 40 slip perturbations and then a session 2 with 40 trip perturbations. On day 2, participants will undergo a session 3 with 20 slip and 20 trip perturbations in random order. The booster-session after six months will be similar to session 3 (20 of each perturbation in random order)."

Participants allocated to the walking group will walk at a self-selected pace on a computer-controlled treadmill for the same amount of time as the treadmill perturbation training participants.