Gaze and Stair Walking in Patients With Vestibular Dysfunction (Gaze)

Gaze and Movement Behavior of Patients With Vestibular Dysfunction During Level Floor, Ramp, and Stair Walking

The aim of this study is to assess the differences in gaze and gait during the stair and ramp negotiation (+transition to normal level walking) between healthy controls and vestibular patients (fallers and non-fallers).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Vestibular Diseases

Detailed Description

For a better understanding of falls in patients with vestibular disorders it might be important to identify the challenging environmental that provoke functional deficits; e.g. stair or ramp negotiation. The three steps at the ground and at the top of stairs is the most common location for missteps and stair accidents. This is supported by the observation made in a 12-month prospective study were 32% of the falls happened during the last step going down stairs in vestibular patients.

It remains open if patient's vestibular dysfunctions have a different gaze or gait behavior than healthy individuals.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 48

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • ZH
    • Zurich, ZH, Switzerland, 8091
      • University Hospital Zurich, Directorate of Research and Education, Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study sample includs patients with vestibular disorder and age matched healthy participants. Patients with vestibular disorder will be diagnosed by a pathological horizontal head impulse test to both sides (< 0.80), as assessed by using a video-based system and the presents of saccades.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All included patients are diagnosed with single or two-sided vestibular dysfunction.
• Adult male and female participant's (≥18 years)
• Signed informed consent after being informed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• Acute pain
• Walking disability (independent walking distance <10 meters)
• Uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (e.g.: uncontrolled blood pressure)
• Gait problems caused by Hip or knee endoprothesis
• Weakness due to neurological problems
• Known or suspected non-compliance
• Contraindications on ethical grounds

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gaze	A mobile eye tracker (Dikablis Professional Glasses, Ergoneers Inc., Manching, Germany) was used to record gaze during the stairs and ramp negotiation.	30 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gait	The recording gait system is a pair of inlay soles with sensors. The sensors sampled the force distribution beneath the subjects' feet. The inlay soles are recording acceleration, rotation rates and magnetic field readings, each in 3 dimensions.	30 minutes
Fall Calendar	A fall-Calendar with questions will be used to assess falls. These questions will be placed on each page of a 12 month calendar. The "fall calendar" pages also contain questions about the circumstances surrounding falls, including the day time, lighting situation, fall location, activity performed, injuries and whether medical assistance was needed. As soon as possible after the fall the fallers have to fill in the date of the fall, its cause, and fall-related injuries. At the end of each month, a calendar page should be sent by each patient to the investigators.	one year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Zurich

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 10, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 14, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): April 15, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 25, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2016
• Last Verified: October 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Vestibular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: KEK-ZH-2014-0509

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Publication