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Rehabilitation after acute vestibular disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2008

R Teggi ,
D Caldirola ,
B Fabiano ,
P Recanati  and
M Bussi
R Teggi*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
D Caldirola
Affiliation:
Anxiety Disorder Clinical and Research Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
B Fabiano
Affiliation:
ENT Department, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
P Recanati
Affiliation:
ENT Department, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
M Bussi
Affiliation:
ENT Department, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Roberto Teggi, San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy. Fax: +39 2 26433508 E-mail: teggi.roberto@hsr.it
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Abstract

Objectives:

To assess the efficacy of rehabilitation for dizzy patients after recent acute vestibular disturbance.

Methods:

Forty patients recently hospitalised for an acute episode of rotational vertigo which lasted days were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (20 patients; group R) underwent active rehabilitation, while the second group (20 patients; group C) were told only to ‘perform their daily activities’. Group R subjects underwent a total of 10 sessions of rehabilitation, including exercises on a stabilometric platform, point de mire and a series of five exercises repeated five times daily. All patients performed static stabilometry (posturography), undertook the dynamic gait index test, and completed a dizziness handicap questionnaire and a visual analogue scale for anxiety, at baseline and on completion.

Results:

At 25 days, the rehabilitated patients obtained better results for all recorded outcomes, compared with the control group. The greatest difference in the rehabilitated subjects, compared with the control group, was for the dynamic gait index test; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The visual analogue scale anxiety score was statistically significantly more reduced in rehabilitated patients compared with control patients. Control patients maintained a higher visual dependence for postural control.

Conclusions:

These results would appear to support the effectiveness of a supervised exercise programme for patients following acute onset of vestibular disturbance. A correlation was found in both groups between dynamic gait index results and anxiety. In our experience, a rehabilitation programme seems to reduce dependence on visual cues for postural control.

Keywords

VertigoVestibular Disorders, Rehabilitation
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 397 - 402
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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