Customized Vestibular Rehabilitation in the Patients with Bilateral Vestibulopathy: A Pilot Study in One Referred Center

Choi, Kwang Dong; Choi, Seo Young

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Bilateral vestibulopathy is characterized with unsteadiness and oscillopsia when walking or standing, worsening in darkness and/or on uneven ground. To establish the effect of customized vestibular rehabilitation in bilateral vestibulopathy, we analyzed the questionnaires and functional status before and after treatment.
METHODS
Among 53 patients with customized vestibular rehabilitation from January 1st to November 30th in 2018, 6 patients (3 males; median age, 71 years; range, 54-75 years) who regularly exercised with good compliance were retrospectively enrolled. They were educated and trained the customized vestibular rehabilitation once a month or two by a supervisor during 40 minutes, and then exercised at home for 30 minutes over 5 days in a week. Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), Korean vestibular disorders activities of daily living scale (vADL), Beck's depression index (BDI), test for dynamic visual acuity (DVA), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) were performed before and after the customized vestibular rehabilitation.
RESULTS
The patients exercised for median 5.5 months (range, 2-10 months) with the customized methods of vestibular rehabilitation, which included gaze and posture stabilization and gait control exercises. DHI score and TUG was improved after rehabilitation (DHI before vs. after rehabilitation=33 vs. 16, p=0.027, TUG before vs. after rehabilitation=12 vs. 10, p=0.026). BDI, DVA, and vADL scores did not differ between before and after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Customized vestibular rehabilitation can improve dizziness and balance state in bilateral vestibulopathy. The steady exercises adapted individual peculiarities is the most important for vestibular rehabilitation.