ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT07587554Updated May 14, 2026

Effects of Wiifit vs Conventional Vestibular Rehabilitation on Dizziness and Balance in Patients With Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction

An interventional study of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy and Wiifit Vestibular Training in Vestibular Dysfunction, Vestibular Diseases and Vertigo, sponsored by Foundation University Islamabad. Completed at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-14.

Primary conditionVertigoRegistry: Vestibular DiseasesReclassifiedWhy we changed it
Registry
Vestibular Diseases — the first condition term the registry derived for this study.
ClinicalTrials.gg
Vertigo
Why
  1. The study's listed conditions name Vertigo, a narrower term within Vestibular Diseases.
Confidence
High: the new condition is named in the study's own listed conditions. Of 351 hand-checked studies reclassified this way, 68% were exactly right and 84% in the right disease family; the registry's first term was right for 5% (measured 2026-10-21). How we classify →
Wrong?
Tell us the study's main condition →

Sponsored by Foundation University Islamabad · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 5 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Nov 2025, registered May 2026).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
42
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction (UPVD) causes dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, and reduced quality of life.

Conventional Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (cVRT) is effective, while WiiFit-based virtual reality training may further enhance motivation and neuroplasticity.

This study aims to compare WiiFit-based training with conventional rehabilitation in improving balance and reducing dizziness in UPVD patients.

A randomized controlled trial will include participants aged 18-65 meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: Group A receiving conventional therapy (40 minutes, 3 sessions/week) and Group B receiving WiiFit-based exercises for 4 weeks.

Outcomes will be assessed using DHI, Mini-BESTest, and VADL before and after intervention.

Read the detailed description

Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction (UPVD) is a common vestibular disorder resulting in symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, and postural instability.

These symptoms significantly affect patients' daily functioning and quality of life. Conventional Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (cVRT), including gaze stabilization, balance training, and habituation exercises, has proven effective in reducing dizziness and improving balance.

However, newer approaches like virtual reality-based rehabilitation using WiiFit offer interactive, task-oriented, and engaging exercises that may enhance motivation and neuroplasticity, potentially leading to better outcomes.This study aims to compare the effectiveness of WiiFit-based vestibular training and conventional vestibular rehabilitation in improving balance and reducing dizziness in patients with UPVD.

The objective is to determine whether the addition of a virtual reality component can yield superior clinical outcomes compared to traditional therapy.

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted on participants diagnosed with UPVD selected through purposive sampling.

Participants aged 18-65 years, confirmed positive on the Head Thrust Test, experiencing persistent dizziness or imbalance for more than four weeks, able to walk independently, and scoring above 12 on the Vertigo Symptom Scale will be included.

Individuals with central vestibular disorders, active BPPV, severe visual or musculoskeletal impairments, seizure history, current participation in other vestibular rehabilitation programs, or severe cervical spine disease will be excluded.

Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into two equal groups using a computer-generated sequence.

Group A will receive conventional vestibular rehabilitation that includes exercises like foam surface standing, VORx1 and 2 training, tandem walking, side shuffles each for a session of 40 mins with a total of 3 sessions per week.

Group B will receive WiiFit-based vestibular rehabilitation exercises like ski salom, soccer heading, table tilt, penguin slide, obstacle course using the Nintendo WiiFit balance board for 4 weeks.

Outcome measures, including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Mini-BESTest, and Vestibular Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL), will be assessed pre- and post-intervention to evaluate changes in dizziness and functional balance.

02

Conditions studied

  • Vestibular Dysfunction
  • Vestibular Diseases
  • Vertigo
  • Dizziness
  • Balance
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Virtual Reality

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Keywords

  • Vestibular rehabilitation
  • Wii Fit
  • Balance training
  • Dizziness
  • Unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction
  • Vestibular disorders
  • Postural balance
  • Balance impairment
  • Virtual reality rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation therapy
03

In context

Vertigo Reclassified

187 studies on the registry are indexed under Vertigo; 27 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 42 is below the median of 73 across 138 interventional studies indexed under Vertigo.

Browse Vertigo studies →

Lead sponsor

Foundation University Islamabad is the lead sponsor of 255 studies on the registry; 142 are open to participants now.

Compared within Vertigo, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Vestibular Diseases. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18-65 years
  • Diagnosed with UPVD (confirmed via Positive Head Thrust Test)
  • Experiencing persistent dizziness or imbalance for >4 weeks after acute onset
  • Able to stand and walk independently
  • VSS total score >12

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Central vestibular disorders (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis)
  • Active BPPV (confirmed by Dix-Hallpike Test)
  • Severe visual or MSK impairments affecting balance
  • History of epileptic seizures or motion sickness triggered by video games
  • Participation in other vestibular rehab programs during study period -- Diagnosed with severe cervical spine disease
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
42 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

    Participants in the control group will undergo standard vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which includes gaze stabilization, habituation, and balance retraining activities. The program will consist of three sessions weekly, spanning four consecutive weeks, with each session lasting around 30 to 40 minutes. Exercises will start in a sitting posture and gradually move to standing and dynamic balancing activities, customized to the patient's tolerance and safety. Following exercises will be administered: Week 1: 1. Romberg (EO → EC) 2. Foam surface standing (eyes open) 3. VOR x1 (seated) 3 sets/ 10 reps Week 2: 1. Standing VOR x1 2. Tandem walking 3. Walking with head turns 3 sets/10 reps Week 3: 1. Side shuffle with head turns 2. Ball Toss with Head Turns 3. Bowling with ball 3 sets/10 reps Week 4: 1. Multi-directional stepping 2. TUG with Head Turns 3. VOR x1/x2 While Walking 4. Dual-task walking 3 sets/10 reps

    Procedure: Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

  • Experimental
    Wii Fit Vestibular Training

    Participants in the experimental group will undergo vestibular training using the Wii Fit on the Nintendo Wii balance platform. Sessions will include interactive balance tasks targeting postural control, coordination, and visual-vestibular integration. Training will be conducted three times per week for four weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes and progressively advancing from basic to more complex activities based on participant performance and safety. Real-time feedback from the Wii system will be used to enhance motivation, adherence, and engagement. Week 1 will include Table Tilt (basic) and Soccer Heading (10 min each with 5 min warm-up and 5 min cool-down). Week 2 will include Balance Bubble, Bowling, and Ski Slalom (slow), 10 min each with warm-up and cool-down. Week 3 will include Obstacle Course (basic), Table Tilt (advanced), and Penguin Slide, 10 min each. Week 4 will involve a combination of all games, 5 min each with 2-3 min rest intervals.

    Procedure: Wiifit Vestibular Training

Interventions

  • ProcedureVestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

    Participants in the control group will undergo standard vestibular rehabilitation therapy, which includes gaze stabilization, habituation, and balance retraining activities. The program will consist of three sessions weekly, spanning four consecutive weeks, with each session lasting around 30 to 40 minutes. Exercises will start in a sitting posture and gradually move to standing and dynamic balancing activities, customized to the patient's tolerance and safety. To mitigate danger, sessions will occur in a peaceful, organized environment with supportive aids (e.g. chair or wall) accessible. Safety standards will encompass a pre-session fall risk assessment and therapist oversight, while any adverse events will be recorded and addressed under physician consultation.

  • ProcedureWiifit Vestibular Training

    Participants in the experimental group will engage in vestibular training via the Wii Fit on the Nintendo Wii balancing platform. Sessions will include interactive balancing activities aimed at challenging postural control, coordination, and visual-vestibular integration. Training will consist of three sessions each week over four weeks, with each session lasting about 30 minutes, progressively increasing from fundamental to more intricate activities based on participant performance and safety considerations. Real-time feedback from the Wii system will be utilized to improve motivation, adherence, and task engagement. Safety measures will encompass therapist oversight at all times, the prevention of abrupt head movements or visual distractions during initial phases, and the delivery of both written and vocal directives to avert falls.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Perceived effects of dizziness

    Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a 25-item self-administered questionnaire intended to assess the perceived effects of dizziness on an individual's everyday activities. Values vary from 0 (no handicap) to 100 (highest handicap), with increasing values signifying more incapacity interpretation: 16-34- mild impairment 36-52- moderate impairment 52+ - severe impairment

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  2. Dynamic Balance

    The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is a performance-based instrument designed to evaluate dynamic balance. The assessment comprises 14 items rated on a 3-point scale (0 = severe impairment to 2 = normal), yielding a maximum total score of 28. interpretation: 28- normal 20-22- minor balance impairment Below 20- significant fall risk

    Time frame: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. disability in adults with vestibular dysfunction

    The Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL) 1-2 = independent (normal) 3-5= independent with difficulty (mild) 6-8= dependent on others( moderate) 8-10= unable to participate in activity (severe)

    Time frame: 4 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Foundation University College of Physical Therapy
    Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 14, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07587554
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 14, 2026
Start date
Nov 18, 2025
Primary completion
Apr 29, 2026
Completion
Apr 29, 2026
Last update
May 14, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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