The objective of this study will evaluate the effects of optokinetic training combined with postural stabilization and gaze stability exercises on motion sickness, balance, gaze stability, and quality of life in individuals with vestibular hypofunction.
A randomized clinical trial will be conducted with 32 participants assigned to two groups: Group A (breathing and aerobic exercises) and Group B (optokinetic training combined with postural stabilization and gaze stability exercises). Data will be collected using the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Visual Acuity Test for Gaze Stability, and Head Impulse Test. Statistical analysis will be performed by SPSS.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
32
Habituation exercises five times per week to improve overall wellness and reduce baseline symptoms of motion sickness (38). Each session, lasting approximately 20-25 minutes, involved exercises conducted for 20 minutes per day, five times a week. Each session, lasting approximately 30-45 minutes, included low-intensity breathing exercises aimed at promoting relaxation and moderate-intensity aerobic activities, such as walking or cycling, at 50-60% of the participant's maximum heart rate.
10-minute warm-up, followed by 20-25 minutes of moderate-intensity optokinetic exercises (viewing controlled moving visual patterns), postural exercises involving controlled head and body movements to engage the vestibular system, and gaze stability exercises, which require focusing on a stationary target during head movements to improve the vestibulo-ocular reflex. The session concluded with a 10-15-minute cool-down to aid relaxation. These sessions continued for 12 weeks
Ittefaq Hospital Lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire
The Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ) is a widely used tool that assesses an individual's predisposition to motion sickness in various environments, such as vehicles, amusement rides, and virtual reality.
Time frame: 8th week
Berg balance scale
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a reliable clinical tool used to assess balance in individuals, particularly older adults and those with balance impairments. It includes 14 tasks each scored from 0 (cannot perform) to 4 (performs independently). The BBS has a maximum score of 56, and most of the patients show a low fall risk of 41 to 56 scores, medium risk of 21 to 40 scores, and a high risk of 0 to 20 scores.
Time frame: 8th week
Dynamic visual acuity test for gaze stability
The Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) Test is a widely used clinical test to assess gaze stability, particularly in individuals with vestibular dysfunction. It evaluates a person's ability to maintain clear vision during head movements, which requires stable gaze control. The test involves reading porotype letters or symbols displayed on a screen, first in a stationary position and then while moving the head horizontally and vertically at a standardized speed (usually around 2 Hz)
Time frame: 8th week
Head impulse test
The Head Impulse Test (HIT) is a diagnostic tool used to evaluate the function of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), essential for maintaining gaze stability during rapid head movements. In this test, a clinician rapidly and unpredictably turns the patient's head to the left or right while the patient focuses on a stationary target, typically the clinician's nose. For a healthy VOR, the eyes should remain fixed on the target despite the head movement
Time frame: 8th week
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