Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2001 Mar;44(3):256-260.

Vestibular rehabilitation in incompletely compensated acute unilateral vestibular loss

• Lee WS
• Lee YH
• Hong JP
• Kwon OW
• Chung WK

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular rehabilitation has been recommended as the treatment of choice for patients with persisting dizziness due to vestibular dysfunction, since surgery is seldom appropriate and the available pharmacological treatments are not curative and can have undesirable side-effects. This study investigated the effects f vestibular rehabilitation therapy on recovery following acute unilateral vestibular loss.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned to two groups of either with-treatment or without treatment. The outcome measures included equilibrium scores in dynamic posturography, motion sensitivity quotient (MSQ), and dizziness handicap inventory (DHI).
RESULTS
When individual comparison measures were compared, equilibrium score results at the end of the 8-week treatment period revealed improvement of postural control in the group who received vestibular rehabilitation therapy. The DHI and MSQ results revealed less motion sensitivity and dizziness handicap, but not the acquired statistical significance compared with the non-treatment group.
CONCLUSION
This results suggest that after acute unilateral vestibular loss, most patients can effectively utilize the central compensation mechanisms to recover from such an injury, but the vestibular rehabilitation therapy could provide a more rapid and complete recovery for these patients.

MeSH Terms

Compensation and Redress
Dizziness
Humans
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Rehabilitation*