AzTrials
AzTrials

Motion SicknessNCT04331561

Sensory Training for Orientation and Balance

A study testing sensory re-weighting in people with Motion Sickness and Vertigo, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.

Withdrawn

Withdrawn. The study stopped before anyone enrolled.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial 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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 59 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Motion Sickness, Vertigo, Dizziness
What is being tested?
sensory re-weighting
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
0 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Dec 2022to Jun 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 59 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants must have self-reported symptoms of visually-induced dizziness
  • Participants must have normal self-reported cognitive function
  • Participants must speak English fluently
  • Weigh less than 225 pounds
  • Be able to support their body weight in an upright posture for 15 minutes at a time
  • Be able to follow the guidelines regarding permitted and prohibited additional treatments outlined in the study protocol.

Who cannot join

  • Participants must not be participating in vestibular and balance rehabilitation therapy
  • Pregnant or planning to become pregnant while in "on study" status
  • Best-corrected visual acuity > 20/70
  • Any self-reported, uncompensated, binocular vision abnormality, such as strabismus, amblyopia, or diplopia
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Self-reported history of frequent syncope (>1/month).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Madison, Wisconsin, 53705

Other trials in United States

About this study

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

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.

Read the 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.

Being tested
sensory re-weighting
Medical subject headings
Motion Sickness, Vertigo, Dizziness

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • sensory re-weightingBehavioural

    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.

Study groups in NCT04331561
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Sensory Re-weightingExperimentalAdults with self-reported visually-induced dizziness will be recruited to help establish the feasibility and tolerability of the testing and training methods, as well as observe for any effects of the sensory re-weighting intervention. Tests involve assessing motion sickness, vision, somatosensation, balance, and perception of verticality. The treatment provided is designed to facilitate re-weighting of sensory feedback for orientation and balance. Participants will serve as their own controls.
Receives: Behavioral: sensory re-weighting

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percent of Participants Enrolled Relative to Approached

    Study feasibility is a primary outcome of this study. Feasibility will be measured using enrollment rates: the number of participants enrolled relative to the number of potential participants approached. This study will be considered 'feasible' with an enrollment rate higher than 70%

    Measured: Up to 30 minutes

  2. Participant Drop out Rate

    Tolerance of the intervention is a primary outcome of this study. Tolerance will be measured using the participant drop out rate. This study will be considered tolerable if the drop out rate is less than 20%

    Measured: Up to 3 weeks

  3. Post-Intervention Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ) Score

    This questionnaire will be administered on paper immediately following each instance of testing and each round of training. Additional rest time will be required if participants symptoms are scored as > 33% on the VRSQ (see below for more information regarding VRSQ scoring). Symptoms must return to baseline before participants are permitted to begin a round of testing or training. The VRSQ is comprised of nine items from two domains (oculomotor: general discomfort, fatigue, eye strain, and difficulty focusing; disorientation: headache, fullness of head, blurred vision, dizzy (eyes closed), and vertigo). The intensity of each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale: 0 = not at all, 1 = slightly, 2 = moderately, and 3 = very. Scores for each sub-scale and the total score range from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate greater symptom intensity. The VRSQ is an adaptation of the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) for use in virtual environments.

    Measured: Visit 3 (Week 2)

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Change in Motion Sensitivity Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) Overall Score

    The MSAQ was designed to evaluate symptoms of visually-induced motion sickness in response to an optokinetic stimulus. Respondents use a 9-point scale to indicate how accurately 16 statements describe their experience viewing the stimulus. Statements include, "I felt sick to my stomach" and "I felt dizzy." The overall score is obtained by calculating the percentage of total points scored: (sum of points from all items/144) × 100. Higher scores indicate greater severity of symptoms. The MSAQ will be administered on paper following exposure to an optokinetic stimulus while standing and wearing the virtual reality headset. Participants will rate their symptoms on the MSAQ after 1 minute of exposure to an annulus rotating clockwise and counterclockwise at 30 degrees per second. Participants will be permitted to rest with the headset off between the clockwise and counterclockwise trials until symptoms have completely resolved. The reliability and validity of the MSAQ have been established.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1) and Visit 3 (Week 2)

  2. Change in Visual Vertical Analogue Scale (VVAS) Total Score

    The VVAS consists of nine scales, each relating to a specific symptom-provoking situation. A revision of the VVAS by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh is in press. The revised version consists of 15 scales. The revised version will be administered in this study. In the revised version of the VVAS, each scale has two anchors, 0 representing no dizziness and 10 representing extreme dizziness or activity avoidance. The distance from the zero anchor to the respondent's marking is measured electronically. Items that are not applicable to the individual's life may be completed as imagined. Internal consistency and validity of the VVAS have been established. A total score is calculated to determine the severity of visual vertigo by summing all items, dividing by the number of answered items, and then multiplying by 10. The maximum score is 100 with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1), Visit 2 (in Week 2), Visit 3 (in Week 2)

  3. Change in Vision-related Dizziness Questionnaire (VRDQ) Total Score

    The VRDQ is used to quantify vision-related dizziness. This outcome measure consists of 25 questions comprising two subscales [frequency and severity of symptoms]. The maximum score for each sub-scale is 100 points. The total score is the average of both sub-scales. Higher scores represent greater frequency and severity of symptoms. Test-retest reliability for the VRDQ is well above the good performance level and convergent validity for the VRDQ was demonstrated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Spearman correlation coefficients are 0.75 between the DHI and VRDQ frequency scale and 0.76 between the DHI and VRDQ severity scale.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1), Visit 2 (in Week 2), Visit 3 (in Week 2)

  4. Change in Rod and Disk Test (RDT) Mean Performance

    The image of an annulus comprised of a pseudorandomized pattern of dots will be presented in the virtual reality headset. The image of a rod is also presented within the central region of the annulus that is black. This image will be rotated at 30° per second in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the participant's line of sight. A batch of rod angles will be predetermined. This assessment will be completed using an Oculus Rift and without reference to external visual cues. Only binocular testing will be completed. The average value for performance in each position will be used in data analysis. The mean of absolute value of the error in rod alignment measured in degrees for each body position tested will be used as the measurement variable for this outcome. Mean performance in this population is 15.1 (sd 8.4). Higher values indicate greater deviation of perceived vertical from earth vertical.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1), Visit 2 (in Week 2), Visit 3 (in Week 2)

  5. Change in Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) Mean Performance

    An image of a rod will be shown in the central portion of the visual field. The surrounding virtual environment will be void. A batch of rod angles will be predetermined. This assessment will be completed using an Oculus Rift and without any reference to external visual cues. Only binocular testing will be completed. The average value for performance in each position will be used in data analysis. The mean of absolute value of the error in rod alignment measured in degrees for each body position tested will be used as the measurement variable for this outcome. Mean performance in this population is 0.39 (sd 0.8). Higher scores indicate subjective visual vertical alignment that is farther away from earth vertical.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1), Visit 2 (in Week 2), Visit 3 (in Week 2)

  6. Change in Rod and Frame Test (RFT) Mean Performance

    An image of a rod will be projected inside a tilted frame within the central portion of the visual field. The surrounding virtual environment will be void. The frame will be tilted by +/- 20° in the frontal plane. A batch of rod angles will be predetermined. This assessment will be completed using an Oculus Rift and without reference to external visual cues. Only binocular testing will be completed. The average value for performance in each position will be used in data analysis. The mean of absolute value of the error in rod alignment measured in degrees for each body position tested will be used as the measurement variable for this outcome. Mean performance in this population is 6.51 (sd 7.8). Higher values indicate greater deviations of perceived vertical from earth vertical.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1), Visit 2 (in Week 2), Visit 3 (in Week 2)

  7. Change in Multisensory Balance Evaluation (MBE) as measured by the Intersection Point Height

    This test is designed to assess balance during quiet standing in different sensory conditions. Participants perform one trial (lasting 50 seconds) of each condition. All trials are performed while standing on a force plate with the feet in a self-selected, comfortable position. The force plate samples center of pressure and direction of ground reaction force. The visual environment is controlled using an Oculus Rift. The surface conditions are either non-compliant or compliant. The frequency-dependent height of the Intersection Point (IP) of the ground reaction force is the main outcome. The behavior and shape of the IP curvature will be studied in each test trial. The IP curvature for certain conditions will be compared versus others in order to assess the impact of manipulating specific sensory inputs on the behavior of the IP. The height of the IP at a specific frequency represents how stable a person is during a given test trial. Lower IP height suggests greater stability.

    Measured: Visit 1 (Week 1), Visit 2 (in Week 2), Visit 3 (in Week 2)

  8. Change in Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament Examination (SWME) Discrimination Threshold

    A SWME will be conducted at the pre-test 2 and post-test 1 assessments in order to determine if the sensory re-weighting training results in changes in sensitivity to light touch/deep pressure sensation on the soles of the feet. Lower SWME threshold indicate increased sensitivity to light touch. The sensitivity between 0.008 grams and 2.0 grams will be assessed.

    Measured: Visit 2 (in Week 2) and Visit 3 (in Week 2)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Apr 2020
  2. Study startDec 2022 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionJun 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJun 2023 (estimated)

Why it stopped: Due to COVID

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
Non-randomized, single group design with 2 baseline and 1 post-treatment assessment time points
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
0 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04331561
Sponsor's protocol ID
2020-0087
Other IDs
A176000, EDUC/KINESIOLOGY, Protocol Version 12/22/2020
Status last verified
Jun 2022
First submitted
31 Mar 2020
Last updated
28 Jun 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: The research team does not plan to share individual participant data.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing sensory re-weighting in people with Motion Sickness and Vertigo, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jun 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percent of Participants Enrolled Relative to Approached (time frame: Up to 30 minutes). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jun 2022.

Free account

Keep searching with a free account

You’ve used your 3 free searches for this session. Log in or create a free AzTrials account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in