Effect of Feedback-Based Balance Training on Balance and Gait in Cancer Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

NCT07368439 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 66/RC/KEMU
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 70
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common complication of cancer treatment that can cause numbness, tingling, pain, balance problems, and difficulty walking. These symptoms may increase the risk of falls and reduce independence and quality of life in cancer survivors. The purpose of this study is to determine whether adding feedback-based balance training to conventional physiotherapy improves balance and walking ability in cancer patients with CIPN. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive conventional physiotherapy along with feedback-based balance and gait training, while the other group will receive conventional physiotherapy alone. The intervention will be provided twice per week for four weeks. Balance, gait performance, neuropathy symptoms, and fear of falling will be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized clinical outcome measures. The findings of this study may help identify effective rehabilitation strategies to improve balance and mobility in cancer patients affected by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Conditions

Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

Keywords

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy; Balance Training; Feedback-Based Training; Gait Training; Physiotherapy; Cancer Rehabilitation; Fall Prevention; Postural Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Balance Performance

  Balance performance will be evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), a 14-item standardized clinical assessment with total scores ranging from 0 to 56, where higher scores indicate better balance.

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Gait Performance

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention

• Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms

  Baseline and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention

Study Arms (2)

Feedback-Based Balance Training Plus Conventional Physiotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will receive conventional physiotherapy combined with feedback-based balance and gait training. Conventional physiotherapy will include strengthening, flexibility, and general balance exercises. Feedback-based balance training will consist of task-oriented balance and gait activities incorporating visual and verbal feedback, mirror-based exercises, and functional gait tasks designed to challenge postural control and coordination. Sessions will be supervised, last approximately 30 minutes, and will be conducted twice per week for four weeks.

Other: Feedback-Based Balance and Gait Training

Conventional Physiotherapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm will receive conventional physiotherapy focused on strengthening, flexibility, and general balance exercises commonly used in the rehabilitation of patients with peripheral neuropathy. Sessions will be supervised, last approximately 30 minutes, and will be conducted twice per week for four weeks.

Other: Conventional Physiotherapy

Interventions

Feedback-Based Balance and Gait Training OTHER

Feedback-based balance and gait training will include structured, task-oriented balance and walking activities designed to challenge postural control and coordination. The intervention will incorporate visual and verbal feedback provided by the therapist, mirror-based exercises, and functional gait tasks such as obstacle negotiation and controlled walking activities. Training will be supervised and delivered in sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes, twice per week for four weeks. This intervention will be provided in addition to conventional physiotherapy.

Feedback-Based Balance Training Plus Conventional Physiotherapy

Conventional Physiotherapy OTHER

Conventional physiotherapy will include standard rehabilitation exercises commonly used for patients with peripheral neuropathy, such as strengthening exercises, flexibility exercises, and general balance training. Sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist and delivered for approximately 30 minutes per session, twice per week for four weeks.

Conventional Physiotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 30 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 30 to 60 years
• Diagnosed with breast, rectal, or stomach cancer
• History of treatment with neurotoxic chemotherapy
• Presence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy as indicated by an EORTC CIPN20 total score of 24 or higher
• Ability to walk independently for at least 6 meters, with or without an assistive device
• Medically stable and able to participate in physiotherapy

You may not qualify if:

• Peripheral neuropathy due to causes other than chemotherapy (e.g., diabetes mellitus)
• History of neurological disorders affecting balance or gait (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease)
• Severe musculoskeletal conditions affecting balance or lower limb function
• Active foot ulcers, infections, or soft tissue injuries
• Severe visual impairment affecting balance
• Any medical condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with safe participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King Edward Medical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

King Edward Medical University, Lahore

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Yardley L, Beyer N, Hauer K, Kempen G, Piot-Ziegler C, Todd C. Development and initial validation of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Age Ageing. 2005 Nov;34(6):614-9. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afi196.

  PMID: 16267188 BACKGROUND

• Staff NP, Grisold A, Grisold W, Windebank AJ. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A current review. Ann Neurol. 2017 Jun;81(6):772-781. doi: 10.1002/ana.24951. Epub 2017 Jun 5.

  PMID: 28486769 BACKGROUND

• Berg KO, Wood-Dauphinee SL, Williams JI, Maki B. Measuring balance in the elderly: validation of an instrument. Can J Public Health. 1992 Jul-Aug;83 Suppl 2:S7-11.

  PMID: 1468055 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Amna Zia, PhD. Scholar

  King Edward Medical University, Lahore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Muhammad Saad Khalid

  King Edward Medical University, Lahore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Rizwan Haider, PhD. Scholar

  King Edward Medical University, Lahore

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Amna Zia, PhD. Scholar

CONTACT

+92 324 4686993; amna.zia@kemu.edu.pk

Muhammad Saad Khalid, DPT

CONTACT

+92 335 4337441; m.saad.khalid.sk@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants will be blinded to group allocation by providing both groups with supervised physiotherapy sessions of similar duration and structure, without disclosure of group-specific intervention details. Outcome assessors will be blinded to treatment allocation. Due to the nature of the intervention, care providers delivering the physiotherapy cannot be blinded.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist/ Lecturer

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either an experimental group receiving feedback-based balance training in addition to conventional physiotherapy or a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy alone.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 18, 2026
• First Posted: January 26, 2026
• Study Start: December 29, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 29, 2026
• Study Completion: April 29, 2026
• Last Updated: January 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)