Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42350021›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Investigating the feasibility and acceptability of the TeleRehabilitation of balance clinical and economic Decision Support System (TeleRehaB DSS) in adults at risk of falls: study protocol for a multicentre clinical trial.

Brooke Nairn, Isabelle D Walz, Christos Nikitas, Diego Kaski, Nattawan Utoomprurkporn, Christoph Maurer, Dimitris Kikidis, Vassilis Tsakanikas, Dimitrios Fotiadis, Marousa Pavlou and 1 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06534164 (Telerehabilitation of Balance Clinical and Economic Decision Support System), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06534164 nanot yet recruitingnot on this map

Telerehabilitation of Balance Clinical and Economic Decision Support System

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity College, LondonRan2025 to 2026Enrolled460ConditionsStroke, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Vestibular Diseases, Long Covid19ArmsFull/High Tech Telerehabilitation decision support system, Basic/Low Tech Telerehabilitation decision support system, OTAGO Home exercise program, Vestibular rehabilitation program
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Brooke NairnThe Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK b.nairn@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-4731-3090
Isabelle D WalzDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Christos NikitasFirst Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Diego KaskiThe Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London, London, UK.
Nattawan UtoomprurkpornFaculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Christoph MaurerDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
Dimitris KikidisFirst Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Vassilis TsakanikasChulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dimitrios FotiadisFirst Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7362-5082
Marousa PavlouThe Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK.
Doris-Eva BamiouThe Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFalls are a significant concern for older adults, particularly those with neurological, vestibular, cognitive and post-viral conditions, due to dizziness and imbalance. Conventional balance rehabilitation programmes, though effective, face challenges in adherence and accessibility. The TeleRehabilitation Decision Support System (TeleRehaB DSS) uses artificial intelligence (AI) and motion tracking to provide individualised multisensory balance rehabilitation (MBR) remotely. This trial aims to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of a home-based TeleRehaB DSS among community-dwelling older adults at risk of falls due to stroke, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), long COVID and vestibular dysfunction. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multicentre, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial will recruit 460 community-dwelling adults aged 40-80 years with stroke, MCI, vestibular dysfunction or long covid across five sites in the UK, Europe and Southeast Asia. Participants will be randomised to a 9-week remotely supervised home exercise programme using either TeleRehaB DSS (high-tech or low-tech MBR with exergames and cognitive training) or standard care (OTAGO home exercise programme or Meniere's Dizziness booklet). Primary outcomes include feasibility, acceptability and safety, alongside clinical measures of balance and health-related quality of life (Functional Gait Assessment, EuroQol five-dimensional descriptive system instrument). Secondary outcomes assess balance, cognition, physical activity, dizziness, psychological well-being, fatigue and confidence. Usability, user experience and digital health literacy will also be evaluated. Anonymised data will undergo quality checks and be analysed using descriptive and exploratory statistics, mixed-effects models, cost-effectiveness analysis (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) and thematic analysis of qualitative interviews, adjusting for site and relevant confounders. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received institutional ethical approvals in the UK, Germany, Greece and Thailand and from Madeira, Portugal. Findings from this study will be submitted for peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06534164.

Indexed as

Accidental FallsDecision Support Systems, ClinicalExercise TherapyPostural BalanceAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCognitive DysfunctionCognitive TrainingCOVID-19Feasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMulticenter Studies as TopicArtificial IntelligenceAugmented RealityBrain InjuriesClinical TrialNeurologyTelemedicine

Identifiers

PMID42350021
PMCPMC13311700

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.