Complementary/Alternative Medicine for Abnormality in the Vestibular (Balance) System

The purpose of this study is to determine the relative merits of vestibular rehabilitation and Tai Chi for patients with inner ear (vestibular) disorders.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Vestibular Neuronitis Cranial Nerve Diseases Ear Diseases Nervous System Diseases Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Retrocochlear Diseases Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases Vestibulopathy

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

Massachusetts General Hospital Biomotion Laboratory

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

About this study

It is proposed a randomized, blinded, controlled trial comparing vestibular rehabilitation (VR) to Tai Chi (TC). Our overall goal is to explore whether, and if so, how TC can improve functional, dynamic stability in persons with vestibulopathy (VSP). It is hypothesized that the TC group will demonstrate significantly greater improvement in performing functional activities than the VR group.

Sixty subjects will be randomly assigned into either TC instruction or VR. Both treatment groups will receive identical duration treatment once a week for 10 weeks, with supplemental home exercises. It is hypothesized that 1) TC improves whole-body dynamic locomotor stability more than does VR; 2) TC improves gait coordination during planned and unplanned obstacle encounters more than does VR; 3) TC improves whole-body speed related movement control more than does VR.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Main inclusion criteria:

vestibulopathy and locomotor unsteadiness

Main exclusion criteria:

diseases/impairments that prevent rehab participation.

Treatment and study plan

Tai Chi

Behavioral

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

Complementary/Alternative Medicine for Vestibulopathy

Important dates

Study start: 2001
Study completion: 2003
First posted: Mar 22, 2002
Registry last updated: Jan 22, 2007

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed