Improving balance in people with COPD V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot feasibility, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial of Balance Training following Pulmonary Rehabilitation on balance in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
IRAS ID
358711
Contact name
Samantha Harrison
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Teesside University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Individuals living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a disease caused by airway damage resulting in breathlessness, have worse balance and fall more often than people of a similar age without COPD. Current evidence for the effect of exercise-based interventions to improve balance in people with COPD is weak and we don’t understand how we can help reduce the risk of falling. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a balance training intervention on balance in individuals with COPD.
A pilot feasibility, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of Balance Training following Pulmonary Rehabilitation on balance in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (B-PuRe) will be conducted. Patients will be randomised 2:1 to the balance training intervention or control group. Both groups will undergo 6-8 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) followed by 6 weeks of walking sport-based, group balance training - Sport4Steadiness in addition to standard care (intervention group) or standard of care alone - ongoing unsupervised home-based exercise program (control group). 55 participants will be recruited over 2 UK sites through Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) waiting lists. Participants will be assessed to collect measures of physical and neuromuscular function (how well nerves and muscles work), balance, physical activity, quality of life and mood at baseline (timepoint 1) and 3 further timepoints; Timepoint 2 - after completion of PR (at the point of randomisation), Timepoint 3 - 6-weeks follow up (intervention - at the completion of balance training) and Timepoint 4 - 26 weeks after randomisation. The primary objective of the study is to assess the feasibility of study procedures and delivering Sport4Steadiness to people with COPD.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0128
Date of REC Opinion
12 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion