App-supported Vestibular Rehabilitation (RCT)

University of Haifa

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Vestibular Abnormality; Vestibular Diseases; Vestibular Disorder

Treatments: Device: Vestibular rehabilitation phone application

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06350669

9576-22-SMC

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of an app-assisted vestibular rehabilitation in increasing adherence to VR and treatment outcomes

Full description

Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) home exercises, prescribed by physiotherapists, are the main treatment for vestibular dysfunction. However, reports by clinicians indicate that patients do not fully comply with the treatment. Advances in technology and tele-rehabilitation have the potential to facilitate adherence to home exercise, if they are designed to overcome the barriers for practice. We plan to continue and expand our previous feasibility study with the vestibular phone app, in order to examine the effects of an app-assisted VR program on adherence and treatment outcomes. The patients in this study will be randomly assigned to the intervention (app-assisted vestibular rehabilitation) or the control group (standard vestibular rehabilitation, no app).

Tests and measurements for both groups will be done at three time points:

1. Preliminary assessment session (Session 1)- An initial assessment test on the first visit;
2. Secondary assessment session (Session 2)- After 5-6 weeks;
3. Follow-up evaluation session (Session 3)- One month after the secondary assessment session.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals aged 18 and over
• Diagnosis with any vestibular disorder that requires a vestibular rehabilitation exercise program
• Physical and cognitive ability to perform vestibular physiotherapy

Exclusion criteria

• A physical disability that does not allow for the performance of vestibular physiotherapy
• Central nervous system (CNS) disease affecting balance
• Individuals who are not qualified to give informed consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

App-assisted vestibular rehabilitation

Experimental group

Description:

The patients in this group will undergo standard vestibular rehabilitation treatment with the addition of a phone app that support the treatment program, e.g., providing reminders for exercise, documentation of exercise performance, communication with the therapist, etc.

Treatment:

Device: Vestibular rehabilitation phone application

Standard vestibular rehabilitation (no app)

No Intervention group

Description:

The patients in this group will undergo standard vestibular rehabilitation treatment, without using the app.