The Effects of Vibrotactile Feedback During Vestibular Rehabilitation
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Enrollment
- 27
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Five Times Sit to Stand
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study evaluates the use of vibrotactile feedback to traditional vestibular treatment protocols. Half the patients will have vibrotactile feedback added to their treatment protocols while the other half will undergo traditional vestibular treatment without vibrotactile feedback.
Detailed Description
Vestibular and balance rehabilitation is an effective way to improve balance for individuals with balance impairments by using the strategies of adaptation, habituation, or substitution. Typical vestibular treatment is usually 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. For people with uncompensated unilateral vestibular hypofunction or bilateral vestibular loss, recovery/adaptation is often incomplete and chronic balance impairments result.
Vibrotactile feedback (VTF) is a strategy of substitution, or augmentation, to replace disrupted or absent vestibular function. The sensory information replaces disrupted or absent vestibular function to give persons additional signals about their body position in space. Real-time VTF applied to the trunk has been shown to decrease postural sway but the long-term benefits of training with VTF on balance and function have not been examined.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 21 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction
- •bilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction
Exclusion Criteria
- •confounding neurologic or neuromuscular disorders
- •pregnancy
- •inability to stand for 3 minutes
- •recent lower extremity fracture/severe sprain within the last 6 months
- •previous lower extremity joint replacement
- •incapacitating back or lower extremity pain
- •body too large for equipment
Arms & Interventions
Vibrotactile Feedback
Balance exercises completed while vibration was applied to the trunk (anterior, posterior, right, and left) if postural sway exceeded a pre-determined threshold during the exercise.
Intervention: Vibrotactile Feedback (Other)
Without Vibrotactile Feedback
Balance training without feedback
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Five Times Sit to Stand
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks
A stopwatch is used to record the amount of time it takes the participant to move from a seated position to a standing position back to seated without using their hads for a total of 5 repetitions
Change in Sensory Organization Testing
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks
Postural sway data will be collected during Computerized Dynamic Posturography using the NeuroCom Equitest.
Change in 10-meter walk test
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks
Participants preferred gait velocity will be assessed while walking in a straight path by timing 10-meter walk.
Change in Dynamic Gait Index and Functional Gait Assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks
Measures that assess ability to modify walking in the presence of external demands. Includes tasks such walking with head turns, walking around obstacles, stepping over obstacles, and negotiating stairs. Each task is scored on a 4 point scale (0-3) and a total score is compiled.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale(Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks)
- Change in Short Form-12(Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks)
- Change in Dizziness Handicap Inventory(Baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, & 30 weeks)
Investigators
Susan Whitney
Professor
University of Pittsburgh