Clinical trial NCT01729039: Vestibular Rehabilitation and Dizziness
Official title: Vestibular Rehabilitation and Dizziness in Geriatric Patients
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Dizziness
Keywords: rehabilitation
aged
aged, 80 and over
vestibular diseases
Lead sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
Sponsor class: FED
First posted: 2012-11-20
Enrollment: 49
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether vestibular exercises provide added benefit to balance rehabilitation in older adults with dizziness and normal vestibular function.

Detailed description: Dizziness is among the most prevalent complaints for which people seek medical help and the incidence increases with advancing age. Dizziness represents a diagnostic and treatment challenge because it is a subjective sensation, refers to a variety of symptoms (unsteadiness, spinning, sense of motion or lightheadedness), and has many potential contributory factors. Dizziness is often related to vestibular disease which is treated effectively with vestibular exercises. Successful management of dizziness is critical because dizziness is a major risk factor for falls in older adults.

There are parallels between the effects of age-related versus disease-related loss of vestibular function - in complaints of dizziness and increased risk for falls. The investigators' question, then, is whether the same exercises that are beneficial for patients with vestibular pathology are beneficial for older patients with dizziness but normal vestibular function.

Older adults with dizziness who have been referred to Audiology for vestibular evaluation will be randomized to receive either standard balance rehabilitation plus placebo eye exercises (CON) or standard balance rehabilitation plus vestibular-specific exercises (GS). Primary outcomes include symptoms, balance-related confidence, dynamic visual acuity, postural stability as measured by sensory organization test, fall risk as measured by dynamic gait index, and gait speed. Assessment will occur at baseline, discharge from physical therapy (PT), 1 and 6 months post-PT.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* at least 50 years of age
* documented balance or mobility problems
* normal vestibular function, including otolith function

Exclusion Criteria:

* cognitive impairment
* progressive medical issues that would impact mobility (e.g., Parkinson's disease, cerebellar atrophy)
* dizziness due to orthostatic hypotension or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Visual Analog Scale - Head Movement
timeFrame: 6 weeks
measure: Visual Analog Scale - Disequilibrium
timeFrame: 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Dynamic Gait Index
timeFrame: 6 weeks
measure: Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
timeFrame: 6 weeks
measure: 10 Meter Walk Test
timeFrame: 6 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Decatur
country: United States
facility: Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
state: Georgia
city: Mountain Home
country: United States
facility: Mountain Home VA Medical Center James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN
state: Tennessee
Study officials:
affiliation: Mountain Home VA Medical Center James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home, TN
name: Courtney D Hall, PhD PT
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: