Effects of Cervical and Oculomotor Exercises in Young Adults With Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

NCT07587528 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FUI/FUCP/CTR/Neuro/Anosha
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 56
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of dizziness disorder in the community.Its cardinal symptoms include vertigo which is induced by change in position of head, turning over in bed, looking up, lying down in bed or any sudden change in the position of head. This study compares the effectiveness of occulomotor exercises alone and combined cervical and occulomotor exercises which take 6 weeks to implement and recruit results and each session lasting 10-20 minute Assessment will be performed at baseline.

Conditions

Nystagmus; Dizziness

Keywords

Oculomotor Exercise; Dynamic Balance; Dynamic Leap and Balance Test; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo; Cervical Exercises

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Nystagmus

  Dynamic leap and balance test Moderate Impairment: Noticeable instability, excessive sway, needs extra steps to regain balance, and slower performance. Severe Impairment: Unable to maintain balance after landing, requires assistance, or is unable to complete the task safely.

  6 weeks

• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

  Dix-Hall pike Test (DHT) is considered the gold standard assessment for the diagnosis of the vestibular disorder benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The patient starts in a sitting position and their head is turned 45° towards the side to be tested. The assessor then assists them to lie down quickly and extends their neck 20° over the end of the plinth, maintaining 45° rotation. The assessor should be able to see the patient's eyes and should observe for nystagmus. A positive response is elicited if rotational nystagmus is noted. The nystagmus will have a delayed onset of approximately 1-2 seconds following movement and it should subside after 10-20 seconds

  6 weeks

• Dizziiness

  The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a widely used tool to assess the impact of dizziness on an individual's daily life.The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater impact of dizziness.

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Cervical exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Week 1: DNF Strengthening (basic chin tuck) + Smooth Pursuit + Basic Saccades Week 2: DNF Progression (longer hold) + Saccadic Eye Movement + Smooth Pursuit Week 3: Adaptation X1 (with head movement) Week 4: DNF with Arm Movements + Adaptation X2 (slow head \& target) Week 5: Saccades with Head Movements Week 6: DNF

Procedure: Cervical Exercises

Occulomotor exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Week 1: Smooth Pursuit + Basic Saccades Week 2: Saccadic Eye Movement + Adaptation X1 (slow speed) Week 3: Adaptation X1 (moderate speed) + Smooth Pursuit (increased range) Week 4: Adaptation X2 (slow) + Complex Saccades (with distractions) Week 5: Adaptation X2 (faster) + Smooth Pursuit (large range) Week 6: All Oculomotor Exercises in Circuit (Saccades + Pursuit + X1 + X2)

Procedure: Occulomotor exercises

Interventions

Occulomotor exercises PROCEDURE

Oculomotor exercises are used to treat BPPV and involve repeated head movements to habituate the brain to vertigo triggers. Saccadic Eye Movement Exercises: Moving the eyes quickly between two stationary targets while keeping the head still. Smooth Pursuit Exercises: Tracking a moving target with the eyes while keeping the head stationary. Adaptation X1 Exercises: Moving the head horizontally while maintaining focus on a stationary target. Adaptation X2 Exercises: Simultaneously moving the head and target in opposite directions horizontally, requiring the eyes to track the moving target.

Occulomotor exercises

Cervical Exercises PROCEDURE

Cervical exercise include Deep Neck flexor strengthening starts with the patient lie supine with knees bent. Perform chin tuck and lift head \~2-3 cm off the surface. Hold for 5- 10 seconds. 10 repetitions, 2 sets daily. DNF activate stabilizing neck muscles and reduce Cervicogenic Input \& provides quick, non-invasive relief from BPPV.

Cervical exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosed Patients of Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV)
• Age between 18-35 years
• Male \& Female Patients
• Positive Dix-Hall pike Test
• Normal Cognitive Function: Able to follow instructions and provide informed consent.
• Normal or Corrected-to-normal Vision
• DHI Scale: Moderate (0-100)

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with visual impairment
• Pregnancy
• Patients with a history of severe heart disease
• Patients with a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
• No other vestibular disorders or conditions that may affect balance
• Pre-Existing Neurological or Musculoskeletal Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Foundation University Islamabad: lead

Study Sites (1)

Foundation University College of Physical Therapy

Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Nystagmus, Pathologic; Dizziness; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Ocular Motility Disorders; Cranial Nerve Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Vertigo; Vestibular Diseases; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2026
• First Posted: May 14, 2026
• Study Start: February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion: April 25, 2026
• Study Completion: May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

PA (1)