VESTIBULAR ADAPTATION EXERCISES AND RECOVERY - ACUTE STAGE AFTER ACOUSTIC NEUROMA RESECTION

The use of exercises in the treatment of patients with vestibular defi cits has become increasingly popular, and evidence exists that these e xercises are beneficial in patients with chronic vestibular deficits, The question as to whether patients with acute unilateral vestibular l oss would benefit from vestibular adaptation exercises is particularly compelling, however, because animal studies have demonstrated that th e acute stage after unilateral vestibular loss is a critical period fo r recovery. Deprivation of visuomotor experience during that period ca n delay the onset of recovery as well as prolong the recovery period. Patients often avoid movement during the early stage because, with mov ement, they experience an increase in dysequilibrium and nausea. We ex amined the recovery of postural stability in patients during the acute stage after resection of acoustic neuroma to determine whether vestib ular adaptation exercises facilitate the onset of recovery and improve the rate of recovery. The results suggest that vestibular adaptation exercises result in improved postural stability and in a diminished pe rception of dysequilibrium.