Benign Paroxysmal Positional VertigoNCT07884786
Effects of Myofascial Release on Postural Balance and Cervical Muscle Function in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
A study testing Home-Based Balance Exercise Program and Myofascial Release Therapy in people with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This completed, two-arm randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of therapist-administered myofascial release added to a progressive home-based balance exercise program in individuals diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- What is being tested?
- Home-Based Balance Exercise Program and Myofascial Release Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2021to 1 May 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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Complaints of positional vertigo.
- BPPV diagnosis by Dix-Hallpike or Roll test.
- No previous vestibular rehabilitation.
- Ability to stand unaided on one leg for 60 seconds with eyes open.
- Willingness to participate and provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Evidence of ear, nose or throat infection.
- Central nervous system pathology causing dizziness.
- Other vestibular disorders.
- Cervical or lumbar conditions restricting exercise.
- Meniere disease, vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis.
- Cardiac conditions.
Show all 11Show fewer
- History of headache or head trauma.
- Lower-extremity pain, pathological conditions or surgery limiting weight-bearing or balance.
- Vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
- Myofascial pain syndrome.
- Inability to cooperate with assessments.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gölköy Campus
Bolu, 14030
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Fascial Release on Posture, Balance, and Muscle Function in Patients With Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This completed, two-arm randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of therapist-administered myofascial release added to a progressive home-based balance exercise program in individuals diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Forty participants were randomized into a home exercise group and a myofascial therapy group. Both groups followed the same six-week exercise program; the intervention group additionally received myofascial release twice weekly. Thirty-two participants completed the six-week assessment. Static balance, posture, cervical range of motion, muscle strength, and muscle activation were assessed before and after the intervention. The trial is being registered retrospectively after completion of data collection.
Read the detailed description
The study compared a six-week progressive home-based exercise program with the same program supplemented by myofascial release therapy in adults with clinically confirmed BPPV. Individuals were diagnosed by an otorhinolaryngology specialist using the Dix-Hallpike or supine Roll test, screened for eligibility and asked to provide written informed consent. Randomization was performed using random.org.
Both arms initially received instruction in exercises targeting postural balance. Movements were supervised at the first encounter, after which the weekly progression was distributed as illustrated photographs through WhatsApp. Exercises were prescribed three times per week for six weeks. In the myofascial therapy arm, a trained physiotherapist additionally delivered four techniques (single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder, thoracic transverse-plane and anterior cervical techniques) twice a week, totaling 12 sessions. Prone techniques were avoided because some BPPV patients might experience dizziness in this position.
Assessments were performed at baseline and at the end of Week 6. Outcomes included static postural sway and stability measured using the Bertec Balance Legacy System, postural alignment measured using PostureScreenMobile, cervical range of motion measured by goniometry, cervical and scapular strength measured with a handheld dynamometer, and sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscle activity measured by surface electromyography. The thesis also reports the Dynamic Gait Index, Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, dizziness intensity, and cervical pain assessments.
This record describes a completed study originally conducted for a doctoral thesis; registration is retrospective. The date of submission to ClinicalTrials.gov is not the historical date on which participants were first enrolled.
- Conditions
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Being tested
- Home-Based Balance Exercise Program, Myofascial Release Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Home-Based Balance Exercise ProgramBehavioural
Six-week graded postural balance and vestibular exercise program prescribed three days per week. Exercises were initially practiced under supervision and then performed at home; weekly programs were delivered electronically.
Myofascial Release TherapyOther
Manual myofascial release by a trained physiotherapist involving the single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder, thoracic transverse-plane and anterior cervical techniques; delivered twice weekly for six weeks (12 sessions).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Home Exercise Group (HEG) | Active comparator | Progressive home-based balance exercise program, three days per week for six weeks, with initial supervised instruction and weekly illustrated exercise schedules provided by WhatsApp. Receives: Behavioral: Home-Based Balance Exercise Program |
| Myofascial Therapy Group (MTG) | Experimental | Identical six-week home exercise program plus physiotherapist-administered myofascial release twice weekly for six weeks (12 sessions). Receives: Behavioral: Home-Based Balance Exercise Program; Other: Myofascial Release Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Postural Sway
Changes in anteroposterior and mediolateral postural sway measured using the Bertec Balance Legacy System under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions on firm and foam surfaces.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Secondary outcomes (10)
Change in Limits of Stability
Anterior, posterior, right, left, and total limits of stability obtained from the Bertec Balance Legacy System.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Postural Alignment
PostureScreenMobile-derived anterior cervical tilt, shoulder alignment, and other posture measures; displacements reported in centimeters.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Cervical Range of Motion
Active and passive cervical flexion/extension, lateral flexion and rotation assessed with a universal goniometer in degrees.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Cervical and Scapular Muscle Strength
Cervical flexor/extensor and upper/middle/lower trapezius isometric force measured by dynamometry in newtons.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Cervical Muscle Activation by sEMG
Right and left sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius surface electromyography; root mean square activity in microvolts, analyzed during a 5-second maximum voluntary contraction.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Dynamic Gait Index Score
Eight walking and functional gait activities, total score 0-24; higher scores indicate better performance.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form Score
15-item symptom questionnaire with item responses from 0 to 4, including vestibular and anxiety-related symptom dimensions.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Dizziness Handicap Inventory Score
25-item questionnaire with a total score of 0-100; higher scores indicate greater dizziness-related handicap.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Dizziness Severity
Participant-reported dizziness intensity measured using a 0-10 visual analogue scale.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Neck Pain Severity
Participant-reported neck pain intensity measured using a 0-10 visual analogue scale when pain is present.
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Oct 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2021
- Primary completion1 May 2023
- Study completion1 May 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Benign Paroxysmal Positional VertigoStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ece ACAR, Karabuk University
- Investigators
- Ece Acar, Principal investigator, Karabuk UniversityTamer Çankaya, Study chair, Abant Izzet Baysal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07884786
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- retrospektif
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Fascial Release on Posture, Balance, and Muscle Function in Patients With Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07884786
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- retrospektif
- Conditions
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Karabuk UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 May 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This completed, two-arm randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of therapist-administered myofascial release added to a progressive home-based balance exercise program in individuals diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Forty participants were randomized into a home exercise group and a myofascial therapy group. Both groups followed the same six-week exercise program; the intervention group additionally received myofascial release twice weekly. Thirty-two participants completed the six-week assessment. Static balance, posture, cervical range of motion, muscle strength, and muscle activation were assessed before and after the intervention. The trial is being registered retrospectively after completion of data collection.
Detailed description
The study compared a six-week progressive home-based exercise program with the same program supplemented by myofascial release therapy in adults with clinically confirmed BPPV. Individuals were diagnosed by an otorhinolaryngology specialist using the Dix-Hallpike or supine Roll test, screened for eligibility and asked to provide written informed consent. Randomization was performed using random.org.
Both arms initially received instruction in exercises targeting postural balance. Movements were supervised at the first encounter, after which the weekly progression was distributed as illustrated photographs through WhatsApp. Exercises were prescribed three times per week for six weeks. In the myofascial therapy arm, a trained physiotherapist additionally delivered four techniques (single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder, thoracic transverse-plane and anterior cervical techniques) twice a week, totaling 12 sessions. Prone techniques were avoided because some BPPV patients might experience dizziness in this position.
Assessments were performed at baseline and at the end of Week 6. Outcomes included static postural sway and stability measured using the Bertec Balance Legacy System, postural alignment measured using PostureScreenMobile, cervical range of motion measured by goniometry, cervical and scapular strength measured with a handheld dynamometer, and sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscle activity measured by surface electromyography. The thesis also reports the Dynamic Gait Index, Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, dizziness intensity, and cervical pain assessments.
This record describes a completed study originally conducted for a doctoral thesis; registration is retrospective. The date of submission to ClinicalTrials.gov is not the historical date on which participants were first enrolled.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Home Exercise Group (HEG) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Home-Based Balance Exercise ProgramProgressive home-based balance exercise program, three days per week for six weeks, with initial supervised instruction and weekly illustrated exercise schedules provided by WhatsApp. |
| Myofascial Therapy Group (MTG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Home-Based Balance Exercise Program, Other: Myofascial Release TherapyIdentical six-week home exercise program plus physiotherapist-administered myofascial release twice weekly for six weeks (12 sessions). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Complaints of positional vertigo.
- BPPV diagnosis by Dix-Hallpike or Roll test.
- No previous vestibular rehabilitation.
- Ability to stand unaided on one leg for 60 seconds with eyes open.
- Willingness to participate and provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Evidence of ear, nose or throat infection.
- Central nervous system pathology causing dizziness.
- Other vestibular disorders.
- Cervical or lumbar conditions restricting exercise.
- Meniere disease, vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Home-Based Balance Exercise ProgramSix-week graded postural balance and vestibular exercise program prescribed three days per week. Exercises were initially practiced under supervision and then performed at home; weekly programs were delivered electronically. | Behavioural | Home Exercise Group (HEG), Myofascial Therapy Group (MTG) |
| Myofascial Release TherapyManual myofascial release by a trained physiotherapist involving the single arm pull, lateral neck-shoulder, thoracic transverse-plane and anterior cervical techniques; delivered twice weekly for six weeks (12 sessions). | Other | Myofascial Therapy Group (MTG) |
Primary outcome
Change in Postural Sway
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Changes in anteroposterior and mediolateral postural sway measured using the Bertec Balance Legacy System under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions on firm and foam surfaces.
10 secondary outcomes
Change in Limits of Stability
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Postural Alignment
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Cervical Range of Motion
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Cervical and Scapular Muscle Strength
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Cervical Muscle Activation by sEMG
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Dynamic Gait Index Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Vertigo Symptom Scale-Short Form Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Dizziness Handicap Inventory Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Dizziness Severity
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Change in Neck Pain Severity
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ece Acar principal investigator
Karabuk University
Tamer Çankaya study chair
Abant Izzet Baysal University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Home-Based Balance Exercise Program and Myofascial Release Therapy in people with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, run by Karabuk University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 5 inclusion and 11 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Oct 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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 is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change in Postural Sway (time frame: Baseline and Week 6). 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 21 Oct 2026.