Optokinetic Virtual Reality Stimulation in Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Vestibular Hypofunction

Interventions

OTHER

Optokinetic Virtual Reality Stimulation

The optokinetic stimulation protocol is defined as follows: * 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. * Session duration will start at 30 seconds and will increase to 150 seconds depending on patient tolerance as the sessions progress. * Participants will be instructed to focus on the red balloon in a moving visual scene. Optokinetic stimuli will be applied to participants in various postures: sitting, upright posture (feet together), semi-tandem stance, or tandem stance positions.

OTHER

Conventional rehabilitation program based on Cawthorne Cooksey exercises

The program will consist of Tracking, VOR, Neck, Static-Dynamic Balance Exercises and Walking training. These exercises depend on the patient's condition; It will be done in sitting, Romberg, semitandem, tandem and walking positions with eyes open and closed. Hard and soft grounds will be used.

OTHER

VR+OKS

The optokinetic stimulation protocol is defined as follows: Optokinetic stimulation will be applied over 8 weeks with gradually increasing balloon rotation speeds: 20°/s (weeks 1-4), 25°/s (weeks 5-6), and 30°/s (weeks 7-8). The background will rotate in the same direction at 30-50% of the balloon speed. Sessions will start at 30 seconds and increase to 150 seconds based on tolerance. Participants will focus on a red balloon in a rotating visual scene, and the stimulation will be performed in various postures including sitting, feet together, semi-tandem, and tandem stance. The program will consist of Tracking, VOR, Neck, Static-Dynamic Balance Exercises and Walking training. These exercises depend on the patient's condition; It will be done in sitting, Romberg, semitandem, tandem and walking positions with eyes open and closed. Hard and soft grounds will be used.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-07

Primary Completion

2025-10-07

Completion

2026-05-07

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations