Effects of Vestibular Training on Postural Control of Healthy Adults Using Virtual Reality
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-35
SponsorClarkson University
About this trial
Postural instability is a common symptom of vestibular dysfunction that impacts a person's day-to-day activities. Vestibular rehabilitation is effective in decreasing dizziness, visual symptoms and improving postural control through several mechanisms including sensory reweighting. As part of the sensory reweighting mechanisms, vestibular activation training with headshake activities influence vestibular reflexes. However, combining challenging vestibular and postural tasks to facilitate more effective rehabilitation outcomes is under-utilized. The novel concurrent headshake and weight shift training (Concurrent HS-WST) is purported to train the vestibular system to directly impact the postural control system simultaneously and engage sensory reweighting to improve balance. Young healthy participants will perform the training by donning a virtual reality headset with an overhead harness on and a spotter present to prevent any falls. The investigators propose that this training strategy would show improved outcomes over traditional training methods by improving vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gains, eye movement variability, sensory reweighting and promoting postural balance. The findings of this study may guide clinicians to develop rehabilitation methods for vestibular postural control in neurological populations with vestibular and/or sensorimotor control impairment.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Able to stand independently (without an assistive device)
This study requires participants to perform postural assessments including reactive balance following mechanical perturbations.
Participants will also perform headshake activities and weight shift training in standing for 20 mins will mini breaks.
Participants must be within the age of 18-35.
Disqualifiers
Concussion, vestibular, balance or oculomotor issues for the prior 6 months.
Neuropathic conditions, particularly affecting the lower extremities. Participants with this issue will have sensory impairments which can affect their sensory assessment.
Current musculoskeletal deficits including significant postural abnormalities (signs of spinal, pelvic and leg length discrepancies).
Pain or limitations in neck range of motion.
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Vestibular training using VR followed by Control
DeviceA cross-over design will be used with group one receiving the training intervention for 6 days, a 4-day washout period, and a 6-day no-training period.
Control followed by Vestibular training using VR
DeviceGroup two will follow the reverse sequence.
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Vestibular Activation TrainingExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: No TrainingNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain
Horizontal and vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain will be assessed using the video head impulse test (vHIT; ICS, Otometrics, Taastrup, Denmark). Twenty head impulses each will be performed to assess each direction of the semicircular canals with participant in a seated position
Time frame
Two week study period2
Eye movement variability
Horizontal and vertical eye movements will be assessed during force plate perturbation trials using BlueGain electro-oculography (EOG) device (Cambridge Research Systems). Participants will stand on a force plate perturbation device with EOG electrodes affixed on eye muscles to record eye movements during toes up (simulating being pushed backward) and toes down (simulating being pushed forward) perturbation rotation trials.
Time frame
Two week study period3
Electromyography (EMG) amplitude
Electromyography (EMG) will be assessed during force plate perturbation trials using Delsys Trigno wireless sensors (Delsys Inc., Boston, MA). Participants will stand on a force plate perturbation device with EMG sensors placed on postural muscles to record electrical activity during toes up (simulating being pushed backward) and toes down (simulating being pushed forward) perturbation rotation trials.
Time frame
Two week study period4
Electromyography (EMG) time onset
Electromyography (EMG) will be assessed during force plate perturbation trials using Delsys Trigno wireless sensors (Delsys Inc., Boston, MA). Participants will stand on a force plate perturbation device with EMG sensors placed on postural muscles to record electrical activity during toes up (simulating being pushed backward) and toes down (simulating being pushed forward) perturbation rotation trials.
Time frame
Two week study periodSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Clarkson University
Lead sponsor
Temple University
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov