Forma de estudo: Ensaio clínico randomizado cego. Objetivo: Comparar a variação dos limites de estabilidade corporal, integração sensorial e melhora clínica dos pacientes após terapia de Reabilitação Vestibular (RV), segundo dois métodos distintos: a reabilitação vestibular clássica com treinamento global do sistema de equilíbrio (RVC) e a adaptação do Reflexo Vestíbulo-ocular (RVO). Casuística e Método: 39 pacientes, acima de 65 anos, com distúrbio de equilíbrio e indicação de tratamento pela RV foram selecionados e alocados aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Protocolo de Cawthorne e Cooksey modificado (Grupo RVC), e adaptação do RVO (Grupo RVO). Os pacientes foram avaliados antes e após o tratamento pelos protocolos de Integração Sensorial e Limite de Estabilidade da Posturografia Dinâmica Computadorizada (PDC), pela escala clínica Disability Index (DI) e por auto-avaliação fundamentada na porcentagem referida de melhora. Resultados: Dentre os 39 pacientes alocados, completaram adequadamente o estudo 16 indivíduos do Grupo RVC e 16 do Grupo RVO. Os grupos mostraram-se homogêneos quanto à faixa etária, sexo e alterações de equilíbrio observadas. Após o tratamento, ambos os grupos apresentaram variações semelhantes dos parâmetros posturográficos e da escala clínica adotada, bem como da auto-avaliação. Conclusão: Os dois protocolos foram semelhantes quanto a sua eficácia para o restabelecimento do equilíbrio corporal dos pacientes / Study design: Blind randomized clinical trial. Objective: To compare the variation of the sensory organization, limits of postural stability and clinical improvement in elderly patients after Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) therapy using two different methods: classical vestibular rehabilitation (CVR) with global training of balance system and adaptation of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Material and Method: Thirty-nine patients aged over 65 years with balance disorders and indication of VR therapy were selected and randomly allocated into two groups: Cawthorne-Cooksey modified protocol (CVR Group) and adaptation of VOR protocol (VOR Group). Patients were assessed before and after treatment with Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Limits of Stability (LOS) by Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP), using clinical scale Disability Index (DI) and self-assessment based on reported percentage of improvement. Results: The study comprised 16 subjects in the CVR group and 16 in the VOR group who fully complied with the treatment. The groups showed similar age range, gender and balance abnormalities. After treatment, both groups presented similar variations of CDP tests and similar results in the clinical scale and in the self-assessment. Conclusion: Both VR protocols showed similar results in effective expansion of limits of stability, scores of sensory organization test and subjective clinical improvement of patients

Forma de estudo: Ensaio clínico randomizado cego. Objetivo: Comparar a variação dos limites de estabilidade corporal, integração sensorial e melhora clínica dos pacientes após terapia de Reabilitação Vestibular (RV), segundo dois métodos distintos: a reabilitação vestibular clássica com treinamento global do sistema de equilíbrio (RVC) e a adaptação do Reflexo Vestíbulo-ocular (RVO). Casuística e Método: 39 pacientes, acima de 65 anos, com distúrbio de equilíbrio e indicação de tratamento pela RV foram selecionados e alocados aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Protocolo de Cawthorne e Cooksey modificado (Grupo RVC), e adaptação do RVO (Grupo RVO). Os pacientes foram avaliados antes e após o tratamento pelos protocolos de Integração Sensorial e Limite de Estabilidade da Posturografia Dinâmica Computadorizada (PDC), pela escala clínica Disability Index (DI) e por auto-avaliação fundamentada na porcentagem referida de melhora. Resultados: Dentre os 39 pacientes alocados, completaram adequadamente o estudo 16 indivíduos do Grupo RVC e 16 do Grupo RVO. Os grupos mostraram-se homogêneos quanto à faixa etária, sexo e alterações de equilíbrio observadas. Após o tratamento, ambos os grupos apresentaram variações semelhantes dos parâmetros posturográficos e da escala clínica adotada, bem como da auto-avaliação. Conclusão: Os dois protocolos foram semelhantes quanto a sua eficácia para o restabelecimento do equilíbrio corporal dos pacientes / Study design: Blind randomized clinical trial. Objective: To compare the variation of the sensory organization, limits of postural stability and clinical improvement in elderly patients after Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) therapy using two different methods: classical vestibular rehabilitation (CVR) with global training of balance system and adaptation of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Material and Method: Thirty-nine patients aged over 65 years with balance disorders and indication of VR therapy were selected and randomly allocated into two groups: Cawthorne-Cooksey modified protocol (CVR Group) and adaptation of VOR protocol (VOR Group). Patients were assessed before and after treatment with Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Limits of Stability (LOS) by Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP), using clinical scale Disability Index (DI) and self-assessment based on reported percentage of improvement. Results: The study comprised 16 subjects in the CVR group and 16 in the VOR group who fully complied with the treatment. The groups showed similar age range, gender and balance abnormalities. After treatment, both groups presented similar variations of CDP tests and similar results in the clinical scale and in the self-assessment. Conclusion: Both VR protocols showed similar results in effective expansion of limits of stability, scores of sensory organization test and subjective clinical improvement of patients

BACKGROUND: Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) improves symptoms and function in some but not all patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine change following vestibular rehabilitation and to identify factors associated with rehabilitation outcome in patients with BVH. METHODS: Data from 69 patients with BVH were analyzed. Factors studied included patient characteristics, subjective complaints and physical function. Outcome measures included symptom intensity, balance confidence, quality of life, gait speed, fall risk, and dynamic visual acuity. Bivariate correlations were used to examine relationships of patient characteristics and baseline measures with outcome measures. One-way ANOVAs were used to compare outcomes in patients with BVH versus unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH). RESULTS: As a group, patients with BVH improved in all outcome measures except disability following a course of vestibular rehabilitation (VR); however, only 38-86% demonstrated a meaningful improvement, depending on the specific outcome measure examined. Several factors measured at baseline - age, DGI score, gait speed and perceived dysequilibrium - were associated with outcomes. For example, greater age was related to higher DVA scores at discharge; lower initial DGI scores were related to higher Disability scores at discharge. Compared to patients with UVH, reported previously [9], a smaller percentage of patients with BVH improve and to a lesser extent. CONCLUSION: Consideration of baseline factors may provide guidance for setting patient goals. Further research is needed determine what factors predict outcome and to develop more effective treatment strategies for those patients who do not improve.

This work reports the use of a head-motion monitoring system to record patient head movements while completing in-home exercises for vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Based upon a dual-axis gyroscope (yaw and pitch, ± 500-degrees/sec maximum), angular head rotations were measured and stored via an on-board memory card. The system enabled the clinician to document exercises at home. Several measurements were recorded in one patient with unilateral vestibular hypofunction: The total time of exercise for the week (118 minutes) was documented and compared with expected weekly exercise time (140 minutes). For gaze stabilization exercises, execution time of 60 sec was expected, and observed times ranged from 75-100 sec. An absence of rest periods between each exercise instead of the recommended one minute rest period was observed. Maximum yaw head velocities from approximately 100-350 degrees/sec were detected. A second subject provided feedback concerning the ease of use of the HAMMS device. This pilot study demonstrates, for the first time, the capability to capture the head-motion “signature” of a patient while completing vestibular rehabilitation exercises in the home and to extract exercise regime parameters and monitor patient adherence. This emerging technology has the potential to greatly improve rehabilitation outcomes for individuals completing in-home gaze stabilization exercises 1 .

Description:It is estimated that 35.4% of adults in the United States have vestibular dysfunction requiring medical attention, and the condition results in a substantial increase in fall risk. The Neurology Section and APTA supported the development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) for vestibular rehabilitation of peripheral vestibular hypofunction. A Cochrane Database systematic review concluded that there is moderate to strong evidence in support of vestibular rehabilitation in the management of patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction for reducing symptoms and improving function. The purpose of the CPG is to review the peer-reviewed literature and make recommendations based on the quality of the research for the treatment of peripheral vestibular hypofunction. The speakers will present the findings of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for vestibular rehabilitation, including clinical and research recommendations. The session will use a case-based approach to illustrate implementation of these guidelines in clinical practice. Learning Objectives:1 . Describe and discuss the action statements from the vestibular rehabilitation CPG. 2. Implement the action statements into clinical practice. 3. Identify the gaps in the evidence and future research directions in vestibular rehabilitation.

The vestibular system senses changes in head position and is responsible for the brain’s perception of verticality. Vestibular dysfunction is caused by deficits in the semicircular canals and/or otolith end-organs with resulting symptoms including dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness. Current vestibular rehabilitation focuses on compensation of the semicircular canal-mediated vestibulo-ocular reflex through gaze and balance exercises. Little is known about rehabilitation of otolith organ function, yet research findings suggest that fall risk may be related to otolith dysfunction. A recent case study demonstrated improvement of vertical perception and balance following off-axis rotation in a rotary chair, showing that such stimulation may be useful for compensation of otolith organ dysfunction. The purpose of our research was to further investigate off-axis rotation as a possible treatment method by evaluating subjective visual vertical (SVV) in healthy controls. Two distance parameters (3.5 cm off-axis and 7.0 cm off-axis) were applied to the rotary chair, with results measured through the SVV test, visual analog scales (VAS), and the balance tilt test (BTT). The magnitude of SVV shift following off-axis rotation was measured in both the 3.5 cm and 7.0 cm off-axis experiments. The greater distance parameter (7.0 cm) did not increase SVV shift magnitude more than the 3.5 cm parameter; yet, resulted in greater symptom intensity as measured through the VAS. These findings led to the conclusion that a distance parameter of 3.5 cm off-axis is optimal for stimulating the otolith organs. This discovery may be helpful in future research utilizing off-axis rotation as a possible treatment method for vestibular patients suffering from otolith dysfunction.

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BACKGROUND: Current vestibular rehabilitation for peripheral vestibular hypofunction is an exercise-based approach that improves symptoms and function in most, but not all patients, and includes gaze stabilization exercises focused on duration of head movement. One factor that may impact rehabilitation outcomes is the speed of head movement during gaze stability exercises. OBJECTIVE: Examine outcomes of modified VOR X1 exercises that emphasize a speed-based approach for gaze stabilization while omitting substitution and habituation exercises. Balance training focused on postural realignment and hip strategy performance during altered visual and somatosensory inputs. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 159 patients with vestibular deficits was performed and five outcome measures were analyzed. RESULTS: All outcomes – self-report dizziness and balance function, dynamic gait index, modified clinical test of sensory interaction and balance, and clinical dynamic visual acuity improved significantly and approached or achieved normal scores. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of modified VOR X1 gaze stability exercises, wherein patients achieved high-velocity head movement (240°/s) during short exercise bouts, with “forced use” gait and balance exercises for postural realignment and hip strategy recruitment, achieved 93–99% of normal scores for all five outcomes. These results compare favorably to the outcomes for current VR techniques and warrant further investigation.

Recorded by Eugene Barsky, Physiotherapy Outreach Librarian, UBC / This is a Systematic Review Presentation titled - "Effectiveness of Combined Vestibular Rehabilitation & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Dizziness", created by Master of Physical Therapy Graduating Students, University of British Columbia - 2006, Presented on September 14-15, 2006 , Vancouver, BC, Canada