NCT04331561

Sensory Training for Orientation and Balance

Sensory Re-weighting Training for Orientation and Equilibrium: A Pilot Trial for the Treatment of Visually-induced Dizziness

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 59 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This is a preliminary study of how human beings control balance and how symptoms of visually-induced dizziness may result in falls. The researchers created new tests of orientation and balance, as well as a new treatment for visually-induced dizziness. The researchers will use the new tests and treatments with adults who are affected by visually-induced dizziness. Testing is done twice before and once after treatment. The total time participants are involved in the study is approximately two weeks.

Detailed description

This is a preliminary study of how human beings control balance and how symptoms of visually-induced dizziness may result in falls. The researchers created new tests of orientation and balance, as well as a new treatment for visually-induced dizziness. It is not known whether the new tests of orientation and balance are better, worse, or the same as existing tests in the ability to detect problems, nor is it known if the new treatment technique is any better, worse, or the same as existing treatments for dizziness and imbalance. However, the researchers hypothesize that the new tests will improve the ability to detect problems. They hypothesize that the treatment will result in less dizziness, better balance, and reduced risk of falling for those who receive it and that it is a better alternative to treatments that are already available to patients. In order to see if this is true, the researchers will use the new tests and treatments with adults who are affected by dizziness. All participants in this study will undergo the same tests and will receive the same treatment. Testing is done twice before and once after the treatment period. The tests and treatment are done while standing on a computerized platform that measures balance and can tilt people from side to side. During these study procedures, participants wear virtual reality goggles that show them simple images in an otherwise dark environment. The goal of the tests and the treatment is for participants to use what they feel to help them decide if the images shown inside the goggles are aligned with the person's sense of gravity. Participation in this study is voluntary and people who decide to participate may stop at any time without penalty.

Conditions

• Motion Sickness
• Vertigo
• Dizziness
• Fall

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	sensory re-weighting	Participants will be supported in quiet standing by a safety harness and crisscrossing strap system. A cervical collar will be used to maintain consistent alignment between the head and trunk. A virtual reality headset is used to create a virtual environment in which visual stimuli will be presented. Three different body positions will be used during training: earth-vertical and clockwise and counterclockwise tilted 16º in the frontal plane. Sensory re-weighting will be driven by priming upregulation of somatosensory cues. In each training trial, participants must determine the direction of gravity and then indicate if the rod being displayed is aligned with gravity or if it needs to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise for that to be so. Participants will be instructed to pay attention to what they feel from their feet, legs, and gut during training and to use that pressure, stretch, movement, and muscle tension feedback to help them sense gravity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-12-01
• Primary completion: 2023-06-01
• Completion: 2023-06-01
• First posted: 2020-04-02
• Last updated: 2022-06-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States