Comparison of Vestibular and Dual-Task Rehabilitation in Parkinson's Disease
ConditionParkinson Disease
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age40-75
SponsorMarmara University
About this trial
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a long-term condition that affects movement, balance, and thinking abilities. It can cause tremor, stiffness, slow movements, and difficulty maintaining balance. In addition to these physical problems, many people with PD also experience difficulties with memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. The balance system in the inner ear (vestibular system) helps maintain posture and orientation, but this system may not work properly in people with PD.
This study aims to compare two different types of exercise programs to improve movement, balance, and cognitive abilities in individuals with PD. One program focuses on exercises that stimulate the balance system (vestibular rehabilitation), while the other combines thinking and movement activities at the same time (dual-task training).
Thirty-six people with PD will take part in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: vestibular exercise group, dual-task exercise group, or control group. Exercises will be done under the supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for eight weeks. Each session will last about 40 minutes and include activities that are safe, structured, and personalized.
Before and after the 8-week program, participants will complete simple tests that measure their memory, attention, walking ability, balance, and daily activity level. The results will show whether these exercise approaches can help improve both body and brain functions.
The findings of this study are expected to help physiotherapists design more effective and personalized rehabilitation programs for people with Parkinson's disease, leading to better balance, safer movement, and improved quality of life.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Individuals aged between 40 and 75 years
Diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD)
Stable medication regimen within the past one month
Hoehn and Yahr stage I-III
Disqualifiers
Presence of any neurological, cardiovascular, or orthopedic disorder that may interfere with walking
Diagnosis of any other neurological disease (e.g., dementia, cerebrovascular disease)
Patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants
Presence of vascular pathologies in the lower extremities
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Other interventionVestibular exercises will consist of static and dynamic balance exercises, VOR and eye movement training, central balance strategies and static-dynamic balance, adaptation, substitution, habituation exercises in terms of adapting to the balance system.
Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities
Other interventionIn the Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities Group, patients will be given additional cognitive tasks (e.g. counting months, subtracting 5 from 100, etc.) in line with the physiotherapist's commands simultaneously with balance and functional activities (such as stepping forwards-sideways-backwards, sitting-standing).
Treatment groups
45 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Vestibular Rehabilitation GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Control GroupNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Mini-BESTest Total Score
Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Mini-BESTest, consisting of 14 items scored from 0-2. The total score (0-28) will be used as the primary outcome, with higher scores indicating better balance and postural control. Unit of Measure: Points (0-28)
Time frame
Baseline and Week 82
Semantic Verbal Fluency Test (Semantic Fluency, 60 seconds)
Participants will name as many semantic-category words as possible within 60 seconds. The outcome will be the total number of correct words produced. Unit of Measure: Number of words
Time frame
Baseline and Week 8Secondary outcomes
1
Digit Span Test (Forward and Backward)
Attention and working memory will be evaluated using the Digit Span Test. Numbers are read at one-per-second pace, and participants repeat increasingly longer sequences forward and backward. Outcome: maximum correctly recalled span for each condition. Unit of Measure: Digit span (number of digits)
Time frame
Baseline and Week 82
Clock Drawing Test (Manos & Wu Scoring Method)
Visuospatial and executive functions will be assessed by drawing "10 past 11" on a pre-segmented circle. Correct placement of 8 numbers and 2 clock hands are scored. Total score ranges from 0 to 10. Unit of Measure: Points (0-10)
Time frame
Baseline and Week 83
Four Square Step Test (FSST)
Participants step clockwise and counterclockwise through four squares following a fixed sequence. Time to complete the sequence is recorded. The best of two trials will be used. Unit of Measure: Seconds
Time frame
Baseline and Week 84
Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) Total Score
Dynamic balance during gait will be assessed using the Dynamic Gait Index. Eight items are scored from 0-3, with a maximum score of 24. Higher scores indicate better performance. Unit of Measure: Points (0-24)
Time frame
Baseline and Week 8Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov