Vestibular Rehabilitation and Dizziness in Geriatric Patients

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Dizziness
• Interventions: Behavioral: Placebo; Behavioral: Vestibular rehabilitation

• Registration Number: NCT00275392
• Lead Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to develop effective exercise intervention to reduce dizziness and fall risk in older adults with non-specific dizziness. We hypothesize that the use of vestibular exercises can reduce dizziness and improve gaze and postural stability in older persons.

Detailed Description

Community dwelling older individuals who present to a specialty dizziness clinic (Atlanta VAMC or Emory University) with a primary complaint of dizziness will be recruited to participate in this study. Before beginning the study, the presence of normal vestibular function will be measured directly using standard vestibular function tests. Individuals will be randomly assigned to the vestibular exercise group (VR) or to the control group (CON). Data will be collected prior to the initiation of physical therapy and at the completion of the 6-week intervention period.

The VR group will perform vestibular exercises plus balance and gait exercises. The CON group will perform saccadic eye movements without targets against a blank wall, as well as balance and gait exercises. The balance and gait exercises for each group will be based on identified impairments and functional limitations, as is the standard of care in physical therapy. All subjects within a group will follow the same exercise progression for the vestibular or eye movement exercises. Subjects will be seen in the clinic on a weekly basis to review and modify the exercises according to a standard protocol and to reinforce compliance.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2006-01-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-01-10
• Study First Posted: 2006-01-11
• Study Start: 2006-04
• Primary Completion: 2009-08
• Study Completion: 2009-08
• Results First Submitted: 2014-09-17
• Results First Submitted QC: 2014-10-09
• Results First Posted: 2014-10-17
• Status Verified: 2014-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-12-05
• Last Update Posted: 2014-12-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 39

Inclusion Criteria

Patients must be at least 60 years of age, seeking medical care due to dizziness and have normal vestibular function based on results of the clinical examination, rotary chair and/or caloric tests.

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Exclusion Criteria

Abnormal vestibular function based on results of clinical examination, rotary chair and/or caloric tests.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	placebo exercises plus standard balance and gait exercises
Vestibular Rehabilitation	Vestibular rehabilitation	vestibular exercises plus standard balance and gait exercises

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Dynamic Gait Index	6 weeks	Fall risk was determined using the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). A maximum total score of 24 is possible and a total score of \< 20 indicates risk for falling.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Dynamic Visual Acuity	6 weeks	Visual acuity during head movement (dynamic visual acuity, DVA) was measured using customized computerized software. DVA is measured in Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR). Participants identified letters while turning the head from side to side between 120 and 180 deg/s. DVA, the difference in acuity between head stationary and moving, is reported as the average of rightward and leftward scores; higher scores indicate worse visual acuity.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur; 🇺🇸 Decatur, Georgia, United States