Perceptual training to improve balance and motion sensing in older adults
Effect of Vestibular Perceptual Learning on Vestibular Thresholds and Balance
This test tries whether repeated motion-feedback training can help older adults (65–89) better detect whole-body tilts and translations and improve their balance.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years to 89 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Trial ID | NCT05818787 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Three cohorts of ten older adults (N=30) will receive one of three perceptual training regimens delivered on a Moog 6-degree-of-freedom motion platform. Training uses roll tilts, inter-aural translations, or a combined protocol, with sessions that include pre- and post-test balance and perception measures and repeated practice trials over roughly 45 days. Participants receive auditory and visual feedback after each passive motion while a 2-down/1-up staircase rule adjusts stimulus size based on performance. Outcomes focus on changes in vestibular perceptual thresholds and laboratory balance measures compared across the training paradigms and a placebo control.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are generally healthy older adults aged 65–89 who can stand unassisted, do not have known vestibular disorders or major neurologic or psychiatric conditions, and meet basic weight and pregnancy criteria.
Not a fit: Patients with diagnosed vestibular disorders, unresolved BPPV, significant neurologic disease, history of seizures or severe head trauma, certain eye conditions like amblyopia, or those unable to stand are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the training could sharpen motion sensing and improve balance in older adults, potentially lowering fall risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous roll-tilt perceptual training has been shown to reduce roll tilt thresholds, though translation training and combined approaches are less tested in older adults.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be able to stand * No leg or foot amputations * No lower limb braces * Not currently feeling dizzy/lightheaded * Not currently pregnant by self-report * Weight \<= 275 pounds Exclusion Criteria: * Severe head trauma or traumatic brain injury * Any vestibular disorder (e.g., Meniere's Disease, Vestibular Migraine, Unresolved benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular hypofunction, except that due to aging, PPPD) as assessed by a Vestibular OtoNeurologist and Neurotologist using clinical diagnostic tests described in proposal plus any additional clinical evaluations they identify * History of seizures * Neurologic illness or condition determined by an Otoneurologist known to impact vestibular or balance function(e.g., stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, demyelinating illness) * Major psychiatric (e.g., panic disorder, psychosis, etc.) disorder * Any of the following eye diseases or conditions: amblyopia (or "lazy eye") or history of amblyopia, diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration, retina dystrophy, glaucoma, cataracts, or any other eye condition that limits vision to worse than 20/40 * Recent (\<6 months) orthopedic injuries of the lower extremities (e.g., plantar fasciitis, ankle, knee or hip injury, back strain/herniated disc, …). * Upper extremity injuries requiring current sling immobilization * Recent surgery * Any other severe health problem (heart disease, pulmonary disease, cancer, etc.). * Vision in both eyes must be better than 20/40 with best correction * Due to the potential for nausea with some of the motion stimuli, and to protect fetus and mother, pregnant women will also be excluded from this study * Since every possible exclusionary factor cannot be predicted, additional exclusion criteria may be required
Where this trial is running
Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Daniel M Merfeld, PhD — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Daniel M Merfeld, PhD
- Email: merfeld.6@osu.edu
- Phone: 614-485-9179
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.