Exercise to Improve Balance in Older Adults With Hearing Impairment - a Proof-of-concept Study

Study design:

This is an experimental (exercise) study with follow-ups three and twelve months after exercise completion.

Participants:

Participants will be recruited from two instances:

• "Praksisnett", which is a collaboration between GPs and researchers in Bergen, Norway, where GPs recruit potential participants to research projects.
• The Ear, Nose, Throat department at Haukeland University Hospital (Bergen), who provide service to older adults with hearing impairment. The aim is to include 60 patients into three intervention arms: i) virtual reality exercises, ii) vestibular rehabilitation exercises and usual care

Intervention arms:

• Virtual reality exercises: Participants will exercise in virtual environments twice weekly. The choice of environments/tasks will be individualized, and progress from sitting/standing exercises, to doing exercises while walking on a treadmill. The aim is to perform cognitive and motor tasks simultanously.
• Vestibular rehabilitation exercises: This is an exercise approach that has been used in clinical groups, such as patients with vestibular disorders and traumatic brain injury. The aim is to perform movements/exercises where the participant is exposed gradually to movements that may be provocative for the vestibular system.

The exercises will be done in a movement lab at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Participants will be randomised to either of the three intervention arms using a computerized procedure. Neither participants, testers or deliverers of the intervention will be blinded. Testers and intervention deliverers will be physiotherapists, students enrolled in a master program in clinical physiotherapy and bachelor students in physiotherapy.