Vestibular Training on Community Ambulation and Fall Risk in Stroke

March 20, 2026 updated by: Yea-Ru Yang, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Effects of Vestibular Training on Community Ambulation and Fall Risk in Individuals With Chronic Stroke

Nearly half of individuals with stroke experience limitations in community ambulation, and 35.7% of community-dwelling stroke survivors experienced falls while walking, indicating that falls are common during routine daily activities in community settings. Sensory reweighting refers to the ability to appropriately prioritize and integrate sensory inputs to maintain postural stability. Stroke survivors often demonstrate impaired sensory reweighting, characterized by excessive reliance on visual and proprioceptive cues and insufficient integration of vestibular information. This deficit adversely affects postural control and subsequently compromises gait performance and fall risk .In addition, many individuals with stroke exhibit reduced gaze stability during walking and turning, suggesting potential impairments in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), a key mechanism for maintaining stable vision during head movement. Insufficient gaze stability has been associated with gait disturbances; therefore, deficits in sensory reweighting and VOR function may contrib-ute to limited community ambulation and increased fall risk. Although previous studies have primarily focused on general balance training, few have directly targeted vestibular input. Thus, the effectiveness of vestibular-specific training for improving community ambulation and reducing fall risk in chronic stroke remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of vestibular training on community ambulation and fall risk in individuals with chronic stroke.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Taipei, Taiwan, 112
        • Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of First-occurrenced stroke
  • ≥ 6 months after stroke
  • Ability to walk at least 400 meters with or without the use of a walking assistive device
  • Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥ 24
  • Age between 18 and 80 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions affected postural stability
  • Presence of dizziness or vertigo
  • Presence of conditions affecting cervical blood flow or limiting cervical range of motion
  • Visual impairment
  • Unstable cardiac status or uncontrolled hypertension

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Vestibular training group
The intervention is a 40-minute session and 3 sessions/week, totaling 4 weeks.
Other: Vestibular training
Gaze stabilization exercises and balance training under visual and head-movement challenges to stimulate vestibular input and maintain balance.
Other Names:
  • gaze stabilization exercises
  • vestibular rehabilitation
Active Comparator: Conventional physical therapy Group
The intervention is a 40-minute session and 3 sessions/week, totaling 4 weeks.
Other: Conventional physical therapy
Strength, posture, gait, and functional training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Walking Ability Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Walking Ability Questionnaire to evaluate community ambulation ability.
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Community Walking Speed
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using a timer to measure average walking speed in the community
Baseline, post-intervention, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Taiwan Chinese version of the Falls Efficacy Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Taiwan Chinese version Falls Efficacy Scale to evaluate fall risk
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gait performance
Time Frame: Baseline, post-intervention, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using GAITRite system to measure the gait spatiotemporal parameters
Baseline, post-intervention, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale to evaluate individual's balance confidence in performing daily activities
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Functional Gait Assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Functional gait assessment to evaluate walking performance
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Six-minute Walk Test
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Six-minute Walk Test to evaluate walking endurance
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test to evaluate balance performanc
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Biodex system to evaluate sensory reweighting ability
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Dynamic Visual Acuity Test
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Dynamic Visual Acuity Test to evaluate vestibulo-ocular reflex function
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Stroke Impact Scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up
Using Stroke Impact Scale to evaluate quality of life
Baseline, 4 weeks after training, and 4-week follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 20, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 20, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NYCU114245AF2

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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