RecruitingNot Applicable

Vibrotactile Balance Belt Effect on Improving Gait

United States90 participantsStarted 2026-03-20

Plain-language summary

This study will examine the effect of using a vibrotactile feedback implemented into a belt, at improving gait in those with gait disorders.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-80 years old * Waist between 60 and 120 cm * Intact vibration sensitivity around the waist * Balance disorder and/or a diagnosis of ataxia or vestibular dysfunction (diagnosis based on imaging, clinical and family history, vestibular function tests, and/or genetic testing) * Speak English Exclusion Criteria: * Previous Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) finished less than 2 months ago * Inability to stand or walk slowly without support in the light on a firm underground * Neurological, ophthalmological and/or orthopedic disorders that hampers vestibular, oculomotor or gait and posture examination

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Activities Balance Confidence Scale (ABC)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Bilateral Vestibular Questionnaire (BVQ)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Single-Item and Visual Analog Scales (VAS)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4 months

Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4 months

Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07253532

SponsorJohns Hopkins University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2030-12-01

Contact for this trial

Michael Craig Schubert, PhD

4109559567 mschube1@jhmi.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Vestibular Hypofunction trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Activities Balance Confidence Scale (ABC)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Bilateral Vestibular Questionnaire (BVQ)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Single-Item and Visual Analog Scales (VAS)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4-5-11-23-35 months

Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4 months

Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4 months

Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)

Timeframe: Baseline, 3 weeks, 1-2-3-4 months