Exploring App-Based Physiotherapy for Somatic Tinnitus: Results from a Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Physical Therapy
• Digital Health

Background:

• Somatic tinnitus (ST) links to somatosensory input from the neck or jaw.
• Traditional physiotherapy helps ST, but access and adherence are challenging.
• App-based interventions offer potential for improved ST management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 9-week app-based physiotherapy program for somatic tinnitus.
• To assess the impact on treatment compliance and availability.
• To measure changes in tinnitus distress using validated questionnaires.

Main Methods:

• Pilot randomized controlled trial with 38 adult chronic ST patients.
• Intervention group: 9-week app-based cervical spine exercise program.
• Control group: received no intervention. Primary outcome: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in tinnitus distress in the app-based treatment group (Cohen's d = 1.71 for THI, 1.02 for Mini-TQ).
• Large effect sizes observed for both primary and secondary outcome measures.
• No significant changes in tinnitus distress were noted in the control group.

Conclusions:

• App-based physiotherapy is a feasible and effective treatment for somatic tinnitus.
• Digital interventions can enhance treatment availability and potentially improve adherence.
• Further research with larger cohorts and comparison to in-clinic care is warranted.