Implementation of an App-based Walking Aid Skills Training Program (NCT05347875)
Exploring the Influence of a Novel Application for Training and Evaluating Walking Implementation of an App-based Walking Aid Skills Training Program Aid Skills in Walking Aid Users: A Protocol for a Pragmatic Single-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Walking aids (WA), such as crutches, canes, and walkers allow individuals to move independently after lower body impairment. Improper WA use may lead to upper body discomfort, pain, or injury. Improper WA use has been associated with increased risk of falls, which may result in traumatic brain injury or even death. WA-related accidents and injuries may not only affect an individual patient's quality of life; they may also increase healthcare system resource use and caregiver burden. WA-related injuries may be preventable if WA are properly fit and sufficient training is provided to the WA user. Smartphone applications (apps) are widely used technologies that have been used to improve health outcomes in populations of healthy and chronically ill individuals. We have developed an app that can be used to teach WA users how to properly fit and use their devices. This app is called Improving Canadians' Walking Aid skills, Learning, and Knowledge (ICanWALK©). The development of the Walking Aids Skills Test© (WAST©) allows for the objective measurement of how well an individual uses their walking aid. It is important to develop such a measurement in order to see whether interventions such as mobile applications change a walking aid user's ability to walk with their device. This 12-item objective evaluation measures the ability of an individual to use their walking aid in different settings, while picking up an object off the ground, navigating stairs, or encountering terrains such as gravel or grass. Three hypotheses will be explored through this clinical trial. Hypothesis 1: Patients who use the ICanWALK© app will have improved balance confidence compared to the control group. Hypothesis 2: Patients who use the ICanWALK© app will have improved balance, improved mobility, less pain, and fewer falls compared to the control group. Hypothesis 3: The WAST© will have an inter-rater reliability of 70% (k=0.85).
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Foothills Medical Centre — Calgary, Alberta
Age range: 18 Years to 99 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
- Walking aid skills app (OTHER)
- Breathing skills app (OTHER)
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)
- Foothills Medical Centre — Calgary, Alberta
- CIRRIS — Québec, Quebec
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (403) 944-4224
Email: ranita.manocha@ucalgary.ca
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
Explore by condition: All Lower Limb; Sprain (Strain) clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.