Optokinetic Virtual Reality Stimulation in Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

Medipol Health Group

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Vestibular Hypofunction

Treatments: Other: Conventional rehabilitation program based on Cawthorne Cooksey exercises; Other: Optokinetic Virtual Reality Stimulation; Other: VR+OKS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06517446

EBRUDOKTORA

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study will be conducted on patients diagnosed with UVH who apply to Prof. Dr. Mete İşeri Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases Polyclinic and Güneşli Erdem Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat and Vestibular Rehabilitation Unit. Participants will be divided into 3 groups by simple randomization (closed envelope) method. To the vestibular rehabilitation group; A conventional rehabilitation program based on structured Cawthorne Cooksey exercises will be applied for 45 minutes once a week with the support of a physiotherapist for 8 weeks. To the optokinetic stimulation group; optokinetic stimulation will be given with virtual reality glasses, and to the combined group; Participants in the vestibular exercise group will receive additional optokinetic stimulation. The application will be done once a week for 8 weeks. Inclusion criteria for the study are; diagnosed with unilateral vestibular hypofunction with VNG test, between the ages of 18-65, class A+ in the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the percentage range being between 96-100%; Exclusion criteria for the study are; Bilateral vestibular hypofunction, visual impairment, neurological disorder and inability to communicate.

Enrollment: 48 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with unilateral vestibular hypofunction with VNG test,
• Being between the ages of 18-65,
• Being in the A+ class on the System Usability Scale (SCS) and having a value between 96-100 percentile

Exclusion criteria

• Having bilateral vestibular hypofunction
• Having a visual impairment,
• Having a neurological disorder
• Inability to communicate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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48 participants in 3 patient groups

Group 1 (VR Group)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a structured conventional vestibular rehabilitation program for eight weeks, once a week, in 45-minute sessions supervised by a physiotherapist. The program will be individualized based on Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises and progressively advanced with the guidance of a vestibular therapist. Additionally, participants will be provided with a home exercise program, to be performed twice daily (morning and evening), with 10 repetitions each time.

Treatment:

Other: Conventional rehabilitation program based on Cawthorne Cooksey exercises

Group 2 (OKS Group)

Experimental group

Description:

Optokinetic stimulation sessions are planned with a balloon rotation speed of 20°/s (degrees per second) during the first four weeks. In the fifth and sixth weeks, the speed will be increased to 25°/s, and in the seventh and eighth weeks, it will be raised to 30°/s. The background screen will be set to rotate in the same direction as the balloons, with a rotation speed equal to 30-50% of the balloon rotation speed. The visual stimulus scene will feature colorful balloons moving in circular patterns, both clockwise and counterclockwise. Participants will be instructed to focus on a red balloon within the scene. The initial session duration will be set at 30 seconds and will be gradually increased up to 150 seconds depending on the participant's tolerance. Each session will include three repetitions of optokinetic stimulation.

Treatment:

Other: Optokinetic Virtual Reality Stimulation

Group 3 (VR+OKS Group)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive both the vestibular rehabilitation program and the optokinetic stimulation described above. Both interventions will be administered simultaneously over an 8-week period, in accordance with the respective protocols.

Treatment:

Other: VR+OKS