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Tai Chi for Vestibulopathic Balance Disorder
Funding Period: July 2001-June 2003
Project Description - This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) (n=60) was designed to gather preliminary data regarding the efficacy of tai chi (TC) for treating postural instability resulting from vestibular disease, i.e. vestibulopathy (VSP), and to explore the biomechanical mechanisms underlying any observed improvements. Subjects with diagnosed VSP were randomized to one of two groups, tai chi or traditional physical therapy for vestibular rehabilitation (VR). Both interventions included 10 weeks of training with additional home practice. Outcome measures included quantitative biomechanical analysis of whole-body dynamic stability during various functional activities (e,g, walking, rising from a chair, etc), eye-gaze stability, quality of life, and psychological well-being.
Current Status - The study was closed to enrollment in November 2002. The data collected in this study suggest that different rehabilitation approaches may have similar gross outcomes, but employ different mechanisms to achieve their improvements. Further, these data support a growing body of evidence that alternative intervention, such as Tai Chi, may confer benefits not attainable with more conventional intervention approaches. The results of this study have been published in several journals (see below).
Principal Investigator (PI): David E. Krebs, PhD, PT (2)
NESA Participants: Peter Wayne , PhD, NESA Student Interns
Co-Investigators - Ted J. Kaptchuk, LicAc (4); Stephen W. Parker, MD (5); Chris A. McGibbon, PhD (2)
Collaborating Institutions – (1) Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, (2) Massachusetts General Hospital Human Biomotion Laboratory, (3) Massachusetts General Hospital , (4) Harvard Medical School 's Osher Institute, (5) Spaulding Rehabilitation Center
Funding Agency – NIH---Grant # 1 R21AT 000553-01
Publications:
1. Wayne PM, Krebs DE, Wolf, SL, Gill-Body KM, Scarborough DM, McGibbon CA, Kaptchuk TJ, Parker SW. Can Tai Chi Improve Vestibulopathic Postural Control? Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004; 85;142-52.
2. Wayne PM, Scarborough DM, Krebs DE, Parker SW, Wolf SL, Asmundson L, McGibbon CA. Tai Chi for Vestibulopathic Balance Dysfunction: A Case Study. Altern Health Med. 2005; 11(2): 60-66.
3. McGibbon CA, Krebs DE, Parker SW, Scarborough DM, Wayne PM, Wolf SL. Tai Chi and Vestibular Rehabilitation Improve Vestibulopathic Gait via Different Neuromuscular Mechanisms: A Preliminary Report. BMC Neurol, 2005; 5 (1): 3.
4. McGibbon CA, Krebs DE, Parker SW, Scarborough DM, Wayne PM, Wolf SL. Tai Chi and Vestibular Rehabilitation Effects on Gaze and Whole Body Stability. J Vestib Res. 2004: 14 (6): 467-478.
5. Krebs DE, McGibbon CA , Scarborough DM, al. e. Tai Chi and vestibular rehab: Double blind, randomized clinical trial. In Preparation
Research Faculty and Staff
Ongoing or Completed Studies:
Other Research Activities:
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