Pilot Study of Pre-Treatment Vestibular Physical Therapy for Adults with Vestibular Schwannoma Undergoing Surgery or Radiosurgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of pre-treatment vestibular physical therapy rehabilitation PREHAB in patients with Vestibular Schwannomas VS who are undergoing either surgery or stereotactic radiosurgery SRS. This pilot randomized study aims to estimate balance scores before and after treatment to better understand how PREHAB may influence recovery. The study enrolls patients diagnosed with VS who are eligible for either surgical or radiosurgical management. Participants will be randomized into four groups PREHAB plus surgery, surgery alone, PREHAB plus radiosurgery, and radiosurgery alone. PREHAB involves weekly visits for three weeks before treatment to develop an exercise program including balance exercises twice daily, gaze stabilization exercises for 12 to 20 minutes daily, and habituation exercises as applicable. Surgical approaches include microsurgical resection using various techniques, while radiosurgery is delivered as a single fraction using Gamma Knife or linear accelerator technology. During the study, participants will undergo baseline and multiple post-treatment balance assessments using the Sensory Organization Test at 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment. Researchers will monitor participants adherence to therapy exercises and collect self-reported questionnaires. The total involvement includes initial PREHAB visits if assigned, treatment procedures, and follow-up balance evaluations over a year to assess outcomes and safety.

Evaluating Pre-Treatment Vestibular Physical Therapy Rehab for Patients With Vestibular Schwannomas