De. Krebs et al., DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF REHABILITATION FOR BILATERAL VESTIBULAR HYPOFUNCTION - PRELIMINARY-REPORT, Otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, 109(4), 1993, pp. 735-741
Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is increasingly popular, but few data e
xist to support enthusiasts' claims of efficacy in improving functiona
l abilities of patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH).
A double-blind, controlled study of eight subjects (mean, 64 +/- 12 ye
ars; seven females, one male) with bilateral vestibular hypofunction w
as conducted. Subjects in group A received 8 weeks of VR followed by 8
weeks of home VR exercises, whereas those in group B received 8 weeks
of control treatment (isometric strengthening exercises) followed by
8 weeks of VR. At the end of 8 weeks, group A walked 8% faster and, du
ring paced gait and stair-climbing, with greater stability, evidenced
by a 10% larger maximum moment arm and a 17% decreased double-support
duration during gait and stair stance. Group B improved less than 1% d
uring the control treatment. Self-reported Dizziness Handicap Inventor
y scores did not differ significantly between control and active VR. A
ll subjects improved compared with baseline tests at the 16-week post-
test on both functional testing and on the Self-reported Dizziness Han
dicap Inventory scale. We conclude that in this small sample, VR effec
tively improved functional, dynamic stability during locomotion, but e
ven strengthening exercises result in self-reported symptomatic improv
ement.