Conventional Vestibular Training Versus Immersive Virtual Reality- Based Vestibular in Multiple Sclerosis
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Maria Jesus Casuso-Holgado
- Where
- Spain1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
- Trial code
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Started
- Jan 2026
- Expected to end
- Dec 2029
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Immersive Virtual-based vestibular rehabilitation
- Conventional vestibular rehabilitation protocol
- Record updated
- 6 May 2026
- Why it stopped
- Lack of funding.
Who can take part
- Age
- 18 years to 65 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 12 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Both male and female subjects from 18-65 years old
- Clinically diagnosed with any type of multiple sclerosis in accordance with the revised McDonald criteria
- With walking ability according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale score (EDSS =6)
- With the objective presence of dizziness symptoms (Dizziness Handicap Inventory = 16)
Who cannot take part
- Cognitive impairment (Mini Mental State Examination =24)
- Another neurologic disorder contributing to balance impairment
- History of vestibular rehabilitation within the last 6 months
- Acute cardiovascular of respiratory illness
- Blurred vision
- Relapse within the last 3 months
- Changes in pharmacotherapy within the last 3 months
- Any other contraindication to physical activity
This trial has no sites in United States.
It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The effectiveness of convectional vestibular training for balance and dizziness rehabilitation in people with multiple sclerosis has been recently demonstrated in a meta-analysis by this research team (doi: 10.3390/jcm9020590). Furthermore, non-immersive virtual reality-based environments seem to be useful for balance and gait rehabilitation in this population (doi: 10.1177/0269215518768084). However, nothing is known about the feasibility and effectiveness of immersive virtual reality-based rehabilitation in people with multiple sclerosis.
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The primary aim of this research is to determine the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of an immersive virtual reality-based vestibular training for dizziness, balance and fatigue rehabilitation, compared to conventional vestibular training.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Immersive virtual reality-based vestibular training.Treatment being tested
Subjects in this group will receive the same intervention than the other group of study, but they will wear a 3D head mounted display (Oculus Quest glasses) and will receive real-time gaming feedback in terms of visual and audio output while using the training system. Participants will receive a total of 20 sessions (3 sessions of 50 minutes per week, 7 weeks). These sessions will be divided in 10 initial sessions (based on the three first blocks of Cawthorne-Cooksey protocol) and 10 advanced sessions in which vestibular exercises are gradually get more complicated by modifiying the following exercise parameters: base of support width, standing on unstable surface, alternatives single leg support, tandem position, increased velocity of head movements, higher head range motion and coordinated movements with arms and trunk. Same location, tailoring parameters and physical therapist supervision than conventional vestibular training.
Treatment: Immersive Virtual-based vestibular rehabilitation
- Conventional vestibular training.Existing treatment, for comparison
Subjects in the control group will receive a total of 20 sessions of 50 minutes (3 sessions per week, 7 weeks). They will receive traditional "Cawthorne-Cooksey" vestibular rehabilitation exercises. This program improves vestibular compensation through a mechanism of neuroplasticity known as adaptation, habituation and substitution. Just like the virtual reality intervention it will be divided in 10 initial sessions and 10 advanced sessions. For the advanced phase of intervention exercises parameters were the same described for the virtual vestibular rehabilitation intervention. A physical therapy with at least two years of expertise in vestibular rehabilitation will adjust the difficulty level. The intervention will be conducted at the Physical Therapy Department of the University of Sevilla (Spain).
Treatment: Conventional vestibular rehabilitation protocol
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Feasibility and Safety of an Immersive Virtual Reality-based Vestibular Rehabilitation Program for Dizziness, Balance and Fatigue Improvement in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Protocol for a Pilot Randomised Controlled Study
- Record updated
- 6 May 2026