Comparison of Vestibular and Dual-Task Rehabilitation in Parkinson's Disease

NCT07277205 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 09.2025.304
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a long-term condition that affects movement, balance, and thinking abilities. It can cause tremor, stiffness, slow movements, and difficulty maintaining balance. In addition to these physical problems, many people with PD also experience difficulties with memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. The balance system in the inner ear (vestibular system) helps maintain posture and orientation, but this system may not work properly in people with PD. This study aims to compare two different types of exercise programs to improve movement, balance, and cognitive abilities in individuals with PD. One program focuses on exercises that stimulate the balance system (vestibular rehabilitation), while the other combines thinking and movement activities at the same time (dual-task training). Thirty-six people with PD will take part in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: vestibular exercise group, dual-task exercise group, or control group. Exercises will be done under the supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for eight weeks. Each session will last about 40 minutes and include activities that are safe, structured, and personalized. Before and after the 8-week program, participants will complete simple tests that measure their memory, attention, walking ability, balance, and daily activity level. The results will show whether these exercise approaches can help improve both body and brain functions. The findings of this study are expected to help physiotherapists design more effective and personalized rehabilitation programs for people with Parkinson's disease, leading to better balance, safer movement, and improved quality of life.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Mini-BESTest Total Score

  Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Mini-BESTest, consisting of 14 items scored from 0-2. The total score (0-28) will be used as the primary outcome, with higher scores indicating better balance and postural control. Unit of Measure: Points (0-28)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Semantic Verbal Fluency Test (Semantic Fluency, 60 seconds)

  Participants will name as many semantic-category words as possible within 60 seconds. The outcome will be the total number of correct words produced. Unit of Measure: Number of words

  Baseline and Week 8

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Digit Span Test (Forward and Backward)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Clock Drawing Test (Manos & Wu Scoring Method)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Four Square Step Test (FSST)

  Baseline and Week 8

• Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) Total Score

  Baseline and Week 8

• Postural Stability (KFORCE Plates - Center of Pressure Metrics)

  Baseline and Week 8

Study Arms (3)

Vestibular Rehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Vestibular Rehabilitation

Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Vestibular Rehabilitation OTHER

Vestibular exercises will consist of static and dynamic balance exercises, VOR and eye movement training, central balance strategies and static-dynamic balance, adaptation, substitution, habituation exercises in terms of adapting to the balance system.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Group

Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities OTHER

In the Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities Group, patients will be given additional cognitive tasks (e.g. counting months, subtracting 5 from 100, etc.) in line with the physiotherapist's commands simultaneously with balance and functional activities (such as stepping forwards-sideways-backwards, sitting-standing).

Cognitive-Motor Dual Task Activities Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Individuals aged between 40 and 75 years
• Diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD)
• Stable medication regimen within the past one month
• Hoehn and Yahr stage I-III
• A score of at least 22 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
• Participants evaluated during the "on" phase of their medication cycle
• No hearing and/or visual impairments

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of any neurological, cardiovascular, or orthopedic disorder that may interfere with walking
• Diagnosis of any other neurological disease (e.g., dementia, cerebrovascular disease)
• Patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) implants
• Presence of vascular pathologies in the lower extremities

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Marmara University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Ezgi Eryıldız, PhD (c)

CONTACT

+905071180878; fzt.ezgigul@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research assistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 20, 2025
• First Posted: December 11, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Last Updated: December 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share